pain when doing skull crushers -- HELP!!

[the nature boy]

anyone else have this problem? What do do? Is there a suitable alternative?

 

[Rémy!]

Where are you getting this pain?

If in the elbows, get a good wrap - If in the scull, consider not letting the bar go down that far or perhaps getting a spot

The wraps help me when going heavy, also doing them on incline or declines take some stress off the elbow and puts it on the muscle, where it belongs.

 

[riskybizz007]

I get that elbow pain sometimes when i do skull crushers and very few times when i do french press. What i do is alternate 1 week w/ french press and 1 week skull crushers. I do both w/ about 145, to do 2 exercises like that really strains the elbow.

 

[The mann]

try doing light pushdowns as a warm up before you start them,i was getting the same pain in my elbows,the only ting i started doing was a couple light sets of pushdowns,then i went up slowly in weight on the skull crushers.seemed to help.........try it....

 

[endpoint]

try and stop the dumbell from hitting you in the skull.....dont take the name of the exercise toooooo seriously or you could be killed

 

[MuscleDm]

The pain is most likely in the tendon just superior to the olecronon process. This pain is caused from an inadequate warm up for the triceps, make sure and do a proper warm up. If pain still persists it may be a strain. Good luck!

Ryan

 

[Belial]

I get that elbow pain sometimes when i do skull crushers and very few times when i do french press. What i do is alternate 1 week w/ french press and 1 week skull crushers. I do both w/ about 145, to do 2 exercises like that really strains the elbow.

There's a difference? This is news to me. Unless you mean french press to be the seated version.

Anyway, nature boy, a few questions:

-Where exactly during the motion is the pain?

-Are you using a cambered bar?

-How far apart are you spacing your hands?

-Does your elbow hurt during any other press?

-Is this something new you're noticing?

Elbows, shoulders, and knees you do not f*ck with... they can all go bad very quickly. In the meantime, stop doing them. But I wouldn't want to recommend another triceps exercise until the nature (haha) of your problem can be determined. Close grip bench might be a better alternative; almost any press where the bar moves in a (roughly) straight line tends to be easier on the joint; (e.g., leg extensions vs. squats for knees; during squats you're putting pressure on the knee joint that corresponds to what the joint is designed for... during leg extensions, it's a shearing force you're applying, and the joint is relying almost exclusively on connective tissue to hold it together...)

 

[mattcanning99]

(1) proper warmup

(2) proper form

(3) heavy weights you can handle

you should be fine

 

[Island Son]

i need a long slow pyramid up else there's a spot above my right elbow that gets strained easily. it probably also gives me time to get into the proper form. warmup is essential.

 

[the nature boy]

What a moron I am, yes it's my right elbow that's causing me discomfort.

And thanks for all the feedback everyone.