What is wrong with my bench?

[growin']

I periodize my training, and it has helped alot with injuries, but on my last two cycles I have gotten really strong, and my biceps start to hurt when my bench gets heavy. I bench with a medium arch (butt ALWAYS on the bench), middle fingers on the rings (not very wide for my long ass arms), scapula pulled together, chin tucked, and body driven into the bench. Any ideas as to what would cause this pain in the biceps? Its only during lowering.

Thanks

 

[PowFit]

Interesting. Do you do bicep curls? Do you feel pain when you do them?

It sounds like a stabilizing muscle strain. Does this area hurt during any other exercise?

 

[growin']

Bicep Curls don't bother me. I feel a slight incling of the pain when doing Military, but sadly my Military is no where near my bench. Do you think this all boils down to weak biceps? I think my triceps and delts are also weak.

 

[1-dawg]

This is actually pretty common and contrary to popular belief it nromally comes from squatting. Do you squat the bay before you bench? If so you'll need to switch yoru days around. Also, while squatting in the gym take a wider grip, then when the meets gets closer you can take it in. It is nto a bicep problem and EVERYONE needs their triceps stronger. Delts, not very often -- I don't even do them.

 

[PowFit]

I agree with 1-dawg. The problem is not stemming from your bench. It is coming from a strain prior to benching. If you can figure out what is causing the strain you can adjust your form on that exercise or change your days around to give you more recuperation time before benching. And it is most likely coming from your squats.

 

[Exodus]

i strained my brachialis tendon and it hurt on the bottom part of the movement........

like the folks up above said..... it could be that previous strain from a workout...... or it could be that pulled tendon

plus you might want to widen that grip..... unless your all too comfortable with it already.

hope this helps

 

[growin']

I got a massage the other night. The lady worked an area of my back along the outer part of the scapula. Holy shit! This was the same area of my back that caused elbow soreness. When she rubbed it, I felt throbbing pain in my biceps. She worked the hell out of that are in my back, then hit my biceps up. Hopefully this will help and I will be pressing in style next week. I'll update you guys if this worked.

 

[Molten]

I get the same problem with arm soreness, and it is from culmulative stress of heavy sq, dl, etc. My solution is not doing speed bench (if you're into westside) and wear elbow support during squats and bench. This will allow your arm to heal.

 

[growin']

Where do you get you elbow supports from?

 

[1-dawg]

I think he's just talking about the neoprene elbow wraps.