Thread: I think my forearms are going to snap in half

i have this, so do most of the guys in my gym, i just deal with it, my forearm hasnt snapped in half yet. I noticed that with time it kinda goes away. how long have u been lifting for?

Originally posted by Golds_Soldier
i have this, so do most of the guys in my gym.

maybe cause you all do the same rediculous bicep routine?

When you say the bottoms of your forearms, do you mean the wrists? Try using an EZ bar when doing curls. For me it took a while for my wrist/forearms to "adapt" to the straight bar for curls.

I use to have this problem as well, try not to strangle the bar, the EZ bar will help like Max said.
Also, try not to lock out at the bottom of the movment, keep the elbow bent slightly.

Originally posted by Prince


maybe cause you all do the same rediculous bicep routine?

we do different routines....hell some of em do bi's once a month

Barbell curls...especially done heavy, can put the forearms in a precarious position. They must withstand alot of pressure and some people just don't have the "flexibilty" in this area (due to joints like wrist or elbow or certain muscle origin and insertions) to handle this. I gave up barbell curls years ago when I became strong enough to curl with a little over 200 lbs for several reps. The pain was too much to stand and I didn't feel my bis properly anymore. Some suggestions...

-give them up
-curl with EZ bar
-do them last in your routine
-curl with back to wall to force you to use less weight

nah it is not my wrists, and I think it is from doing heavy BB curls, I have been lifting for years now and have always done BB curls w/o any real problem untill recently. I will take a day or two off all lifting all together, and see how I feel then. i do EZ curls also and it doesent hurt as much then, but the pain is still there. I will just keep trying different things and see if I cant figure something out. If I do i will be sure to let everyone know, but thanks for the help guys

Originally posted by Vale Tudo
nah it is not my wrists, and I think it is from doing heavy BB curls, I have been lifting for years now and have always done BB curls w/o any real problem untill recently. I will take a day or two off all lifting all together, and see how I feel then. i do EZ curls also and it doesent hurt as much then, but the pain is still there. I will just keep trying different things and see if I cant figure something out. If I do i will be sure to let everyone know, but thanks for the help guys

I know its not your wrists...its in the bones and/or muscles of the forearms. Be careful with it or you will give yourself a permanent injury.

What do you mean by be careful GP? Like take some time off? Or lighten the weight or what? I dont want to stop training them, but if I have to I will I dont want to f-myself up

Originally posted by Vale Tudo
What do you mean by be careful GP? Like take some time off? Or lighten the weight or what? I dont want to stop training them, but if I have to I will I dont want to f-myself up

I mean don't ignore that pain. You can handle it in a few ways...cut back your poundage and curl slower and stricter...use the EZ bar more often...put barbell curls last in your bi routine so you are forced to use less weight...and definitely don't use the straight bar at every workout.

thanks GP i will put all of those suggestions into effect, and see what happens, I will keep you posted, thanks again

Originally posted by Vale Tudo
thanks GP i will put all of those suggestions into effect, and see what happens, I will keep you posted, thanks again

Ok my friend. Good luck!

I'll probably get slammed for this but when I was having that problem, I got a couple of wraps used for tennis elbow and put them on my forearms, I was still able to work out my bi's and didn't cause further injury to my forearms while they got better.

I think my problem was due to a rapid increase in weigh lifted from Deadlifts and the strain of straight BB curls.
I used a EZ bar for about 6 months but can now use a straight bar with no problems and I haven't used the wraps in at least 6 months.

I have the same pain, but only in my right arm (my stronger arm).

However, I have been using the EZ Curl BB all along because of the more comfy grip position, yet I still get the pain. And obviously, I get it from DBs as well.

I don't like the idea of curling less weight, so I have moved my arm routine to the end of my training week. I'll let you know if this seems to make a difference.

Originally posted by Scotty the Body
I'll probably get slammed for this but when I was having that problem, I got a couple of wraps used for tennis elbow and put them on my forearms, I was still able to work out my bi's and didn't cause further injury to my forearms while they got better.

I think my problem was due to a rapid increase in weigh lifted from Deadlifts and the strain of straight BB curls.
I used a EZ bar for about 6 months but can now use a straight bar with no problems and I haven't used the wraps in at least 6 months.

You are officially SLAMMED!!!!!!!!!!

200lb BB curls!!!

Just do DB curls 100lbs each hand.

i'm not using anywhere NEAR the weight you guys must be for barbell curls. (i'm using 55 lbs) so that must make a big difference. (for me 55 is pretty heavy though)

anyway - most people i know much prefer the ez bar curls to straight. for some reason i get a much better contraction when i use the straight bar. i don't feel any pain in my wrist of forearms...so in that case is it fine to do straight bar curls or does it increase risk of future injury and i should cut it out?

Vale Tudo

Hey man, why don't you concentrate on barbell or ez-bar Preacher Curls. This might help.

Originally posted by nikegurl
i'm not using anywhere NEAR the weight you guys must be for barbell curls. (i'm using 55 lbs) so that must make a big difference. (for me 55 is pretty heavy though)

anyway - most people i know much prefer the ez bar curls to straight. for some reason i get a much better contraction when i use the straight bar. i don't feel any pain in my wrist of forearms...so in that case is it fine to do straight bar curls or does it increase risk of future injury and i should cut it out?

Well, straight bar curls work the biceps more "directly" than EZ bar curls. The slight pronation of the wrist when holding an EZ bar will also recruit the brachialis muscle of the upper arm strongly. As long as you have no pain, than I believe straight bar curls to be the "better" BICEP builder.

Originally posted by nikegurl
i don't feel any pain in my wrist of forearms...so in that case is it fine to do straight bar curls or does it increase risk of future injury and i should cut it out?

If it's not hurting and you feel like it gives you a better workout then EZ-Curl bars, then I'd say stick with the straight bar.

Everybody's body is different you may be one of the lucky ones who never has problems with the straight bar.

My forearms kill me afterwards, but I've found with a wider grip it seems to be alot better.

Originally posted by miamiguns
200lb BB curls!!!

Just do DB curls 100lbs each hand.

Well, curling two 100 lb dumbells is NOT the same as curling a 200 lb barbell. I have curled 225 lbs for a single, but will never curl a pair of 110 lb dumbells...not without cheating like mad. I do however, curl with 80-85 lb dumbells when working heavy.