Ben Posted November 4, 2003 Posted November 4, 2003 I'll cut straight to the point: Recently I've been doing weights (1-2 times a week) and I've been shadowboxing a bit. I've gained a very strange feeling in my elbows - not the bone, rather what feels like the ligaments on the inside of the arm. I crack my knuckles often, and anyone that also does this, knows the feeling you get just before you have to crack them.. its like that only a little less stiff.. infact it feels rather loose. When i go to stretch out my arms, when i fully extend them, i feel like something is either stretching badly or kind of ripping... I hope someone knows what i mean, but i cant really explain these kind of things very well... I'm wondering if anyone knows what it might be - whether it be through experience or what. I'm guessing its the sudden strict regieme i've put myself on and the addition of weights into my program. I'm trying to use the doctors as a last resort... i know i shouldnt but i dislike them
PrideampPoise Posted November 6, 2003 Posted November 6, 2003 Hmmm, I've never had exactly what you describe, but I have had various "strange" aches or pains pop up in joints or muscles. So far, they've all gone away when I either temporarily stopped the activity, or just protected the area for awhile. For example, I also did something to my elbow about a month ago. It wasn't what you described exactly, but when I fully extended it, there was a sharp pain. I continued all of my training, but was careful not to completely extend that joint for a week or so, and now its fine. A tearing sensation doesn't sound good, though. If you don't want to see the doctor yet, I'd suggest refraining from anything that causes the pain/sensation for a couple of weeks. If it gets better, great. If not, then its off to the doc. As a sidenote, it sounds like it could be either the weights or the shadowboxing thats causing the problem. If you are fully extending your arm when punching, you could be over-extending and that could be causing the problem. Try only extending to 90-95%... With weights, ALWAYS start out light when you haven't been training for awhile. Take at least a month or so to build to weights that are really pushing you. Given that you are already hurt, again, don't do anything that causes the pain and see if it gets better. Good luck!
Red J Posted November 7, 2003 Posted November 7, 2003 When you do weights and shadowboxing, try not to extend your elbows all the way to a locked position. You may be putting undue stress on your joints. I had to lose my mind to come to my senses.
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