Posted by TattFreak on March 21, 1997 at 21:29:40:
In Reply to: Intense forearm pain and elbow pain. posted by Kiss me where it smells funny on March 21, 1997 at 09:38:50:
Sounds like something I would go through occasionally. You are correct in comparing the pain to shin splints because it is essentially a shin splint of the forearm, damage to the bone fibers causing the pain. I found that I had the greatest problem when I would curl to failure. The true pain came as a result of that last rep and the intense struggle to get it up. Holding that weight and having it not move was the culprit (you know, when it's about halfway up and stops moving, so you sit there like a retard and struggle to no avail), it puts incredible stress on the forearm bones. I found that if I had a spotter help me to keep the weight moving the pain would go away over time and never return.
IMPORTANT: don't sit there and struggle your ass off when doing curls and coming to failure, if you can't get the weight rack the shit, otherwise you're just doing damage to your forearms. Do what you can do and then stop, or get somebody to keep the weight moving. Holding it there is when you put the damage to your forearms. Also, make sure you keep your biceps, forearms and elbows in a straight alignment (usually the natuaral hanging position when you are standing) to prevent excess stress on your elbows and wrists. I never use E-Z curl bars for biceps, always the 45# straight bar. I have not had any pains ever since I experimented with this practice. It worked for some of my buddies that got the same pains too, give it a try.