skullcrushers/french press

[nishnish]

i have not found a better tricep building exercise. however, they are hell on my elbows. i can do them for a while, but eventually my elbows (left on especially) begin to deteriorate. i am convinced that i developed tendonitis in my left elbow from refusing to listen to my body and pushing through the pain when i was younger.

and i never seem to learn! i have been doing them for a while recently, and tonight decided to increase the weight, somehow forgetting that certain threshold where the pain begins. i was plenty warmed up, having trained shoulders first, and then done a couple of tricep exercises beforehand with lots of stretching as well.

sure enough i aggravated my left elbow again and now it hurts like a motherfucker.

i guess i just need to leave them alone for good. i can often do them with dumbells; that doesn't seem to hurt.

in my tricep workouts, i generally try to include:

close grip bench
pressdowns
french press/skull crushers
and some finishing moverment, like kickbacks or summit.

three sets of each.

anyone got any ideas for an exercise to replace skullcrushers?

thanks

 

[bignate73]

reduce your volume....and ditch "tricep day". throw tricep work in on an upper body workout day.

take a week off from direct tricep work at the least, then come back doing just one exercise, rotate through your list.

 

[nishnish]

there's no "tricep day" per se, i have been training them after shoulders...

can you elaborate a bit for me?

my spilt has been:

mon- chest/biceps

tues- legs

wed- abs/calves

thurs- back/rear delts

fri- shoulders/triceps

sat- legs/abs/calves

been getting great results... but still totally open to training advice

 

[dahamn]

i have not found a better tricep building exercise. however, they are hell on my elbows. i can do them for a while, but eventually my elbows (left on especially) begin to deteriorate. i am convinced that i developed tendonitis in my left elbow from refusing to listen to my body and pushing through the pain when i was younger.

and i never seem to learn! i have been doing them for a while recently, and tonight decided to increase the weight, somehow forgetting that certain threshold where the pain begins. i was plenty warmed up, having trained shoulders first, and then done a couple of tricep exercises beforehand with lots of stretching as well.

sure enough i aggravated my left elbow again and now it hurts like a motherfucker.

i guess i just need to leave them alone for good. i can often do them with dumbells; that doesn't seem to hurt.

in my tricep workouts, i generally try to include:

close grip bench
pressdowns
french press/skull crushers
and some finishing moverment, like kickbacks or summit.

three sets of each.

anyone got any ideas for an exercise to replace skullcrushers?

thanks

Elbow problems suck, it affects everything. Hang in there bro and try and stay away from exercises you know will agrevate them.

Dave

 

[big4life]

Here's a thread from the power lifting forum that has a couple great ways to work your triceps. I really like the elbows out extensions.

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27734&highlight=elbows+extensions

 

[steig]

have you tried different grips or bars for your tricep work? if i use and EZ curl bar for lying extensions my elbow will get ripped to pieces. But i don't have elbow pain and get a good tricep workout when i use a straight bar for lying extensions. Just an idea.

 

[nishnish]

thanks for the tips folks- i really appreciate it. and steig- i have been using the ez curl bar for the lying extensions. i will try some light ones with the straight bar and see how it feels.

 

[Extra_Strong]

..bro I had the same problem.... for years same story. I started going to the chiropractor for my back. and told her about my elbow problem..
...she started giving me ajustments to my elbow ... I had given up on them myself..
and after a while i started them back slowly. with light weight and after taking it slow for a while i was able to go heavy agian. If it starts giving me any trouble withch is usaully dones not anymore. I just go see her and she hooks me up .... got to love the chiro good stuff...

 

[tzan]

I have the same issues with my right elbow. I started wearing one of those neosperene elbow sleeves and let me tell you the thing is like magic. I still try to avoid french presses and skulls of any variation, but now at least I can do closegrips and other pushing exercises without the constant pain.

 

[eat big]

CG Bench with 5x5 worked amazingly for me.

 

[wtlftr]

True True. CG bench is a good exercise. Plus heavy wt dips

 

[ruggermu]

I have the same issues with my right elbow. I started wearing one of those neosperene elbow sleeves and let me tell you the thing is like magic. I still try to avoid french presses and skulls of any variation, but now at least I can do closegrips and other pushing exercises without the constant pain.

That's true, he said that when I posted on here about tendon issues and the sleeves are amazing. I'm able to do my old routine again.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I'm going to try one of those sleeves. I have a tender elbow that hurts when I do pullups.

 

[DaPit26]

instead of skullcrushers with a straight bar i do them with db's with palms facing in or use the ez tricep bar. Totally different feel from the strait! wighted dips are good, reverse pressdowns and even try doing diamond pushups on a weight ball, that's a killer at the end of your set!!!

 

[andari]

there's no "tricep day" per se, i have been training them after shoulders...

can you elaborate a bit for me?

my spilt has been:

mon- chest/biceps

tues- legs

wed- abs/calves

thurs- back/rear delts

fri- shoulders/triceps

sat- legs/abs/calves

been getting great results... but still totally open to training advice

what type of excersises do you do on those days for eacp ody part???

 

[glover]

thanks for the tips folks- i really appreciate it. and steig- i have been using the ez curl bar for the lying extensions. i will try some light ones with the straight bar and see how it feels.

Try the dumbells instead, palm facing in and you don't have to go all the way down.

I had tennis elbow surgery in January. Before that I could not do any biceps exercises. After surgery I am healing good and have started curling with progressivly heavier weights but find that triceps work is difficult.

The pushdowns and lying extensions seem to put the most stress on my elbow.

The closer my forearm gets to my upper arm the worse it is. So consider only going to 90 degrees or slightly more. You will probably be better off laying off or using lighter weight for a while. Lighter weight is working for me as I rushed back into heavy before I was ready. Before surgery I used 120lbs for 2 sets of 8. Now I do 50lbs.

Kickbacks and close grip bench are pain free for me. That powerlifting exercise on the incline bench hurts my elbow with no weights so avoid that. But by taking the weight all the way to the chest puts tremendous strain on your elbow

 

[fortunatesun]

just to hit up all the bases, you can also do 'crushers on an incline bench. Just different enough to take some of the stress off.

 

[ed2005]

i have not found a better tricep building exercise. however, they are hell on my elbows. i can do them for a while, but eventually my elbows (left on especially) begin to deteriorate. i am convinced that i developed tendonitis in my left elbow from refusing to listen to my body and pushing through the pain when i was younger.

and i never seem to learn! i have been doing them for a while recently, and tonight decided to increase the weight, somehow forgetting that certain threshold where the pain begins. i was plenty warmed up, having trained shoulders first, and then done a couple of tricep exercises beforehand with lots of stretching as well.

sure enough i aggravated my left elbow again and now it hurts like a motherfucker.

i guess i just need to leave them alone for good. i can often do them with dumbells; that doesn't seem to hurt.

in my tricep workouts, i generally try to include:

close grip bench
pressdowns
french press/skull crushers
and some finishing moverment, like kickbacks or summit.

three sets of each.

anyone got any ideas for an exercise to replace skullcrushers?

thanks

try doing them on a decline bench, it seems to take all the stress of the elbows...maybe feel a bit strange at first but it works
Ed