forearm PAIN during CTX upper...?

[junemom]

Hi, this is a question for anybody, I know (I hope!!!) Cathe's busy,

Does anyone else experience huge forearm fatigue when doing CTX upper? I'll give my example from this morning: I did kickbox and biceps, then back, and by the time I hit back, my forearms were screaming, to the point where I could barely hold the barbell for the bent over rows. By the time I hit deadlifts I know my form was suffering. I don';t find this with all combinations, but also find it when I do the entire CTX upper workout-my forearms are KILLING me by half way through.

Is this just a side effect of having maybe weak forearms? Am I going too heavy with my barbell? Here's another odd thought: I use the neoprene covered dumbells, but have one set of the metal hex ones, and notice that the the part you hold on the hex ones is smaller in diameter. I am a small person: maybe the neoprene dumbells are too far around, and I'm gripping them too tight??

any insights welcome!

Christine

 

[starbuck]

Hmmm

Check with your doctor have you at anytime recently hurt your forearm is there an already existing injury you might have forgotten about.

I was thinking several things I am small and have very small hands so I do have to watch when lifting (a lot of things) particularly that I am holding them properly otherwise I find my hands spend must of the time just trying to hold on. For an example when you double up weights I have to make sure that I have both weights at the narrowest part of the weight otherwise if feels like my forearms and wrist come into play just trying to hold on.

It might be you are gripping to hard so you might need to keep reminding yourself to relax your hands, if that does not do it lighten up. Babs

 

[Connie1]

Is it pain (injury-type) or overwhelming fatigue of forearm muscles? Your answer to that question could illuminate the problem. Grip strength is an important part of fitness. So it might be worth it to divide CTX upper, and try dpoing it in a different order *if* it's fatigue.

If it's pain from tracking wrong, you might want to try an all-dumbbell workout. This would enable you to track your wrists straight even better than with an e-z bar and also work the stabilizing muscles all around your forearms. Pay great attention to form during biceps work- do not let wrists collapse, but keep them straight. Lower the weights to enable this if needed.

Dumbbells are great for this and also functionally, most things you lift are dissimilar to barbells. Oh goodness, I am putting off my workout to post away this morning!! I hope my thoughts help!
-Connie

 

[junemom]

Thank you both, Connie and Babs, your comments are really helpful. It is fatigue pain...my forearms get a pretty good pump, they get all veiny and swollen (yikes!!). I think you are both right: I am probably gripping too hard, and I will try to lower the weight of the barbell for the biceps section, this one seems to be the culprit generally. I am sure I am collapsing my wrists in an effort to keep up with the weight cathe and the gals are using. I don't have an ez curl bar...maybe this should go on my christmas list!

Christine

 

[Connie1]

Hi Christine! Just to make sure you caught it (I just finished this morning's workout!) an e-z curl bar is nice to have, but dumbbells go one better, in that your wrists can assume their natural angle and even slightly change through the range of motion of each rep.

I think they're all great to have-- e-z, regular bars, and dumbbells. Alternating is much kinder than exclusively using straight barbells, for sure, in my experience!

- Connie

 

[PatriciaP]

Hi Christine:

I had a set of 8-lb neoprene dumbbells that I gave away -- too big for my hand grip and I got cramps. I, too, have small hands and find the metal hex ones easier on the hands and forearms.

I also remember on a video I had that the instructor said not to grasp the dumbbells too tightly because it's hard on the forearms. But I find I can't "lightly" handle 15-25-lb dumbbells or I'll drop 'em! Either way, heavy weights on hard on my hands, even though I wear extra-spongy gloves.

Patricia

P.S. Haven't done CTX for awhile and I don't have the compilation tape, but recall I had more problems with my forearms on the CTX upper body than with any of Cathe's other weight tapes. My guess is it's because you spend more time and more variations on each muscle group than, for example, PH. And like PH, CTX is an endurance workout.