Topic: lateral epicondylitis

[Brendan Flanagan]

Does anyone have experience of this type of injury whilst doing lifts requiring the "pull"? I can do jerk from rack and presses with no pain but I had to stop "pull" exercises for 3 weeks. With mild pain today I decided to do my power clean routine which required me to complete 11 sets up to 85%. I managed to do them with relative ease but had some mild pain at the outside of the  "pointy bone"shortly after. This pain did ease  after being iced. The injury, I have been told, is quite common and one person advised me that I can continue to train even with mild pain but should wear an elbow brace. I would be grateful if anyone who has experienced similar injury to advise me. I would hate to have to cutail my training as I am a masters lifter with limited time to compete.

thank you

[leighton richards]

I had something similar, but it was made much worse by my judo training and all the weighted pull ups I was doing.
I went to see a physiotherapist and he said the problem was actually caused by a stiff joint in my neck, which impinges on the lateral nerve (either caused by whiplash injury or could be because I'm a software developer so sit at a desk all day staring at a screen).
The physio did some work on my neck and gave me some exercises stretches to do at home (on my neck and arm).
I dropped the heavy pull ups (although rope climbing is fine because my arms are not as pronated when rope climbing) and I've been fine ever since.

[Brendan Flanagan]

thanks Leighton

I think i will give the physio a try. I actually managed to get a full set of power snatches done today with about 3/10 pain wise but the elbow was sore after. I did some icing and later tried to do clean pulls but the elbow was sore. I may have to curtail the classical lifts. I hope that if I can only jerk, press and squat that i wont lose "core" strength whilst waiting for the injury to heal.

[Pete Church]

Brendan, what you describe is probably "Tennis Elbow." A similar problem is what I have and called "Golfer's Elbow." The pain is more to the inside of the elbow and affects a tendon. Unlike you I can snatch OK but C & J's kill me, anything requiring extending my arms including presses, jerks, bench presses. Here's a link to some info:

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbow/a/golferselbow.htm

[Brendan Flanagan]

Pete

yes , it is "tennis elbow" I come across a physio therapist on "you tube" who demonstrated stretching exercises and massage. I followed her advice and "iced" 3 times a day and the improvement has been remarkable. I am also wearing a good elastic elbow sleeve. I havn't lifted for 27 years Pete and at 43 I have never been more enthusiastic. I had managed 3 months training and starting to make progress. Lifting hopefully in Novemebr. Let me know how your training is going from time to time.

[Pete Church]

Brendan,
Make sure you don't wear that elastic sleeve in competition. I wore one for my C & J's at Nation Masters and called called for it. Apparently not allowed! Good luck with your training and try not to over train.

[Tom Banister]

Pete, did you ever check out the rules?  I still can't believe they dinged you for that.

[Pete Church]

Tom,
Here are the rules from the IWF
No bandages or substitutes are allowed on the following parts of the body:
a) the elbows
b) the trunk
c) the thighs
d) the shins
e) the arms

Don't know when they outlawed elbow sleeves.
To help with my golfers elbow I did purchase a strap from Walmart to go just below the elbow on the forearm. Hopefully that helps with the recovery from the tendinitis. And heat. I'll work out for the first time tomorrow since  competition 4/5.