Squat causing tendonitis/bicep pain

[VTHS]

I'm trying to rack my brain as to why this is happening. It's obviously happening because of bar position/grip but I don't know where or why. This has been an on going problem for the last 6 weeks and is hampering all of my lifts. Basically, as soon as I get to 225, both biceps get knotted up. A few times it has gotten so bad that I had to ask someone to get the plates off because I couldn't fold my arms. Some weeks are worse than others and sometimes, on a few workouts, I've been able to make it all the way through my work sets.

Here's a video of my squat with close ups of the bar.



I would be most grateful for any tips.

[Paul Horn]

This typically stems from incorrect wrist position, and, unfortunately, once you have a tendonitis problem, even the slightest insult can make it flare up. I caught a glimpse of your wrists in the video and noticed some flexion on the left hand. Is it possible that you used to squat with bent wrists and are now overcompensating? Regardless, two things will help: perfectly straight wrists, and an aggressive ibuprofen regimen. If I were in your shoes, I might do 800mg 4x/day for 5 days, but I'm not a doctor and have no business giving out medical advice.

[Carlos Daniel]

What had worked for me is stopping squatting for about 5 days and elbowwraps or sleeves at every squat session.

[VTHS]

This typically stems from incorrect wrist position, and, unfortunately, once you have a tendonitis problem, even the slightest insult can make it flare up. I caught a glimpse of your wrists in the video and noticed some flexion on the left hand. Is it possible that you used to squat with bent wrists and are now overcompensating? Regardless, two things will help: perfectly straight wrists, and an aggressive ibuprofen regimen. If I were in your shoes, I might do 800mg 4x/day for 5 days, but I'm not a doctor and have no business giving out medical advice.

It could be, but my wrists were bent down before, not up, but not by much.

I'm going to either tape or wrap my wrists then, to see if I can get them straight and see if it helps.

Otherwise from the bit flexion on my left hand, how does the rest of the bar position/grip look?

[Hollis]

As a side note from watching the video, it looks like you'd be better served with the up rights positioned up one more notch. You've got quite a ways travel up and down, and don't need to be so hunched over at the start.

[VTHS]

Squatted again last night. I wrapped my wrists up pretty tight so all I could really do is use the heal of my hand to contact the bar. It helped a lot by forcing me to get my upper back tighter and my elbows up. I'll keep doing it and I'll see if it works long term.

[oldbgn]

My triceps have been continuously sore lately. Thought it was poor recovery but after readin your post I believe it may have something to do with the grip.

Paid more attention to the heels in the last couple of workouts and I feel better (may also be because now I have a post workout protein shake?).

I've had to deload on the presses and I attributed that to the triceps soreness.

Would it make any sense to press before the squat (I'm doing the SS program)? I mean triceps wouldn't be affected by a poor squat grip, right? Or sore tendons do not have any impact in strength if you can bear the pain ?

Thanks in advance

[Paul Horn]

You can try switching the order, but that probably won't fix your problem. Fix your grip and eat/drink more. Recovery matters.

[VTHS]

I have a problem with recovery because of my profession, but I don't necessarily think that's it, nor what I eat. Wrapping my wrists has been like night and day, and it isn't because it makes my wrists more immobile, but it really forces me to get my back tighter and my elbows up so it's sort of like a silent cue. I had a little bit of pain or fatigue last night, but it was minor and didn't affect the rest of my workout.

I'm transitioning to the Texas method on the first of the year so the squat volume will test the ability of the wraps to prevent the pain/fatigue.

[Paul Horn]

My comment was Oldbgn. Sorry, I should have clarified. Glad the wraps are helping. Let us know how you like TM.