Lock or not to Lock triceps

[InGreatShape]

I have encountered a lot of people whether to choose locking or not to lock your elbows when doing tricep exercises. So which is better?

 

[rahl]

I lock except on dips. Dips are so hard on your shoulders and elbows anyway I just hold for a second just short of lockout.

 

[grubd]

I typically lock out on triceps going through the full motion.

 

[the_alcatraz]

I lock on everything except narrow grip bench press and heavy dips

 

[SpyWizard]

try this, the real problem i have with the "lock" position, at either point during the exercise is at that moment of "lock" blood flows into the muscle..

If your goal is size and strength, then you want to keep the muscle under tension, you want to cause micro fractures withing the mitofiber and cause damage to the mitocondria, so keeping the muscle under contraction "anabolic = without oxygen" rather than "aerobic = with oxygen" you will cause more damage and thus increase the possibility of new muscle size, and cause the muscle to increase its ability to hold more glycogen and create the effect of "Mitocondrial re education"

With that said, the best success i have had is to do 3 exercise in straight sets 4-6 rep range, then the 4th exercise for that body part to do 60% in the full range open and close at the top and bottom.. trying for 20-25 reps.. this will pump more and more blood into the now damaged muscle, bringing more nutrients and taking away more of the lactic acid..
If that sounds like too many exercises to you.. do 2 straight sets in the "unlocked" condition, then in the 3rd exercise do the open/20-25 rep range for 3-5 sets.. if you can..

If you can reach above your head to remove your shirt, then you did it wrong..

 

[Tblock1]

I lock on everything except narrow grip bench press and heavy dips

Why don't you lock out on close grip bench press? Too much stress on elbows?

 

[lookinfit75]

In order to keep constant tension on the muscle I don't lock out. Locking out also puts a lot of stress on the joints so I try to avoid it. The only time I lock out on something would a 1RM type of thing.

 

[ExtraMile]

I lock out but I dont relax the muscle and allow the joint so take all the weight, I dont lock back my elbows or knees but I fully straighten them if that makes sense. I dont do anything on purpose I just lift the thing how I would do it naturally. I dont even think about it...

 

[the_alcatraz]

Why don't you lock out on close grip bench press? Too much stress on elbows?

I narrow grip bench 315 lbs for reps....it's def. too much pressure on the elbows if you lock out on top IMO

 

[JDid23]

so how far up do you guys go if you don't lockout? i lockout on every lift every time- am i missing something if i don't?