pain when doing skull crushers -- HELP!!

[the nature boy]

anyone else have this problem? What do do? Is there a suitable alternative?

 

[Rémy!]

Where are you getting this pain?

If in the elbows, get a good wrap - If in the scull, consider not letting the bar go down that far or perhaps getting a spot

The wraps help me when going heavy, also doing them on incline or declines take some stress off the elbow and puts it on the muscle, where it belongs.

 

[riskybizz007]

I get that elbow pain sometimes when i do skull crushers and very few times when i do french press. What i do is alternate 1 week w/ french press and 1 week skull crushers. I do both w/ about 145, to do 2 exercises like that really strains the elbow.

 

[The mann]

try doing light pushdowns as a warm up before you start them,i was getting the same pain in my elbows,the only ting i started doing was a couple light sets of pushdowns,then i went up slowly in weight on the skull crushers.seemed to help.........try it....

 

[endpoint]

try and stop the dumbell from hitting you in the skull.....dont take the name of the exercise toooooo seriously or you could be killed

 

[MuscleDm]

The pain is most likely in the tendon just superior to the olecronon process. This pain is caused from an inadequate warm up for the triceps, make sure and do a proper warm up. If pain still persists it may be a strain. Good luck!

Ryan

 

[Belial]

I get that elbow pain sometimes when i do skull crushers and very few times when i do french press. What i do is alternate 1 week w/ french press and 1 week skull crushers. I do both w/ about 145, to do 2 exercises like that really strains the elbow.

There's a difference? This is news to me. Unless you mean french press to be the seated version.

Anyway, nature boy, a few questions:

-Where exactly during the motion is the pain?

-Are you using a cambered bar?

-How far apart are you spacing your hands?

-Does your elbow hurt during any other press?

-Is this something new you're noticing?

Elbows, shoulders, and knees you do not f*ck with... they can all go bad very quickly. In the meantime, stop doing them. But I wouldn't want to recommend another triceps exercise until the nature (haha) of your problem can be determined. Close grip bench might be a better alternative; almost any press where the bar moves in a (roughly) straight line tends to be easier on the joint; (e.g., leg extensions vs. squats for knees; during squats you're putting pressure on the knee joint that corresponds to what the joint is designed for... during leg extensions, it's a shearing force you're applying, and the joint is relying almost exclusively on connective tissue to hold it together...)

 

[mattcanning99]

(1) proper warmup

(2) proper form

(3) heavy weights you can handle

you should be fine

 

[Island Son]

i need a long slow pyramid up else there's a spot above my right elbow that gets strained easily. it probably also gives me time to get into the proper form. warmup is essential.

 

[the nature boy]

What a moron I am, yes it's my right elbow that's causing me discomfort.

And thanks for all the feedback everyone.

 

[the nature boy]

There's a difference? This is news to me. Unless you mean french press to be the seated version.

Anyway, nature boy, a few questions:

-Where exactly during the motion is the pain?

-Are you using a cambered bar?

-How far apart are you spacing your hands?

-Does your elbow hurt during any other press?

-Is this something new you're noticing?

Elbows, shoulders, and knees you do not f*ck with... they can all go bad very quickly. In the meantime, stop doing them. But I wouldn't want to recommend another triceps exercise until the nature (haha) of your problem can be determined. Close grip bench might be a better alternative; almost any press where the bar moves in a (roughly) straight line tends to be easier on the joint; (e.g., leg extensions vs. squats for knees; during squats you're putting pressure on the knee joint that corresponds to what the joint is designed for... during leg extensions, it's a shearing force you're applying, and the joint is relying almost exclusively on connective tissue to hold it together...)

thanks for the advice bro,


my elbow hurts on the way down

I use a cambered bar (aka EZ curl bar)

and I have my hands spaced like maybe undera foot apart.

my elbow doesnt' really hurt on other presses


I don't know if this is enough information or not. I really like doing them as opposed to doing tricep pushdowns with a rope or some shit. I would think my elbow would hurt doing close grip benchpresses, but that isnt' the case. Very baffling!

 

[DaCypher]

thanks for the advice bro,


my elbow hurts on the way down

I use a cambered bar (aka EZ curl bar)

and I have my hands spaced like maybe undera foot apart.

my elbow doesnt' really hurt on other presses


I don't know if this is enough information or not. I really like doing them as opposed to doing tricep pushdowns with a rope or some shit. I would think my elbow would hurt doing close grip benchpresses, but that isnt' the case. Very baffling!

I sometimes get a pain in my elbow(s) when doing skull crushers too (also using the ez curl bar). I've found that switching from the inner to the outter grip (or vice versa) seems to aleviate the discomfort (at least temporarily, you may have to switch grips each set). Hope some of that helps...

The cable machines don't have enough weight for me anymore...

 

[the nature boy]

I'm gonna try that DaCypher, thanks.

 

[growin']

This sounds wierd, but it may be your back casuing referral pain. Go to a masseuse, tell them your problem. They will most likely rub your back on your upper outer lat, kind of behind your armpit near the rear delt. I can't remember the name of the muscle/tendon, but it runs along the back of your arm, and caused me wicked pain when doing skull crushers.

I the meantime, try alot of stretching. When stretching your tri's, pull your elbow towards the opposite shoulder so you also stretch the lat. Also, pull your arm across your chest at various angles. These stretches will help loosen the problem muscle, and may allow you to perfrom lying extensions.

I have been doing the stretches religiously, and can finally do lying extensions again.

Good luck

 

[MarshallPenniford]

If they hurt you, why do you do them? I'm having this same issue with the deadlift at the moment.