Bench Pressing

ricardinho · 23-04-2004, 11:20 AM

Hi, when i bench press with a barbell I get pain in my right wrist. I have tried various grips but still seem to feel the pain in my wrist.

However, when i bench press using dumbells I have no problem, and don't feel any pain in my wrist.

I want to know if it is a disadvantage to do all your bench press work (flat and incline etc) using just dumbells, does it make a difference?

vinger · 23-04-2004, 11:46 AM

If your having pain with a barbell and not dumbels that suggests to me that your not flexible enough in your wrists.

Try warming them up first.

Personnly i would have thought it to be a disadvantage not to be able to use a barbell as u can handle less weight with dumbells.

Does it hurt with a barbell even if its light?

If not, make smaller increases.

ricardinho · 23-04-2004, 03:52 PM

Thanks for the advice.

Yeah i still get pain if it's light.

I never warm my wrists up, I will give this a go. Any suggestions for exercises to warm them up? Or is it just a matter of doing circles with your wrists?

vinger · 23-04-2004, 04:08 PM

No probs .

I circle my wrists, mine hurt aswell if i dont.

Another sugestion would be wrist straps. Never tried em myself but might be worth ago mate.

mark · 23-04-2004, 04:26 PM

One of the lads I train with wears them - Infact he never takes them off - he says they help his grip with everything!

IanUK · 23-04-2004, 04:28 PM

Straps might not help in the long run and unless you have an actual injury they might be counter active and make your wrists weaker than before.

Dumbell press is fine and probab;y more productive because you need more stabaliser muscles to control two dumbells than one bar, i say stick with it.

garethxxx · 24-04-2004, 04:52 PM

I agree with IanUK on this one.

Try some gloves and warming up a little. If you have a Smith machine in the gym use that, you dont even really need to take a good grip on that one, also the Hammer smith machine is superb as little grip is needed and less pressure on the wrists is applied.

If you are using dumb bells, you will often notice that you can get stronger much quicker as well, as IanUK said. Its almost like a form of isolation exercies.

I do a blend of both, but am ill at the moment and am not getting any gains, so am having a rest for a while. Try changing your routine a little as well, that might help, and dont skimp out on calcium.

Keep us informed!

ricardinho · 25-04-2004, 02:57 PM

Cheers for all the advice lads, much appreciated.

robemrachki · 20-06-2004, 10:11 AM

SOME1 HELP LOL,I THINK IVE GOT BITCH TITS,I CANNOT GET A PUMP OUT OF MY CHEST IT NEVER ACHES THE DAY AFTER AND MY LOWER CHEST IS SOFT. IVE TRIED PULLOVERS DECLINE DIPS YOU NAME IT IVE TRIED IT. MY STRENGH IS GOING UP BUT MY CHEST IS NOT HARDENING UP SOME1 HELP, PS DOES ANY1 KNOW OF ANY SUPPLEMENTS OUT THERE WHICH WILL PUMP MY CHEST UP LEGALLY LOL

bukem · 20-06-2004, 05:04 PM

I used to get pain in my wrists from benching and alot of bicep work too. I'm also a brickie so it was beggining to bother me quite a bit. I started using straps and the pain has gone completely. I wear them all the time at the gym now. Also I've got to bump the db press, it's much better for development the bar work. You get a more even workout becuase each arm works individually as with a bar when if one side is lagging the other can compensate to keep the bar moving. The only time I ever bar bench is if I'm working towards a new 1rm.

23-04-2004, 11:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
ricardinho Under Construction Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power:	Bench Pressing Hi, when i bench press with a barbell I get pain in my right wrist. I have tried various grips but still seem to feel the pain in my wrist. However, when i bench press using dumbells I have no problem, and don't feel any pain in my wrist. I want to know if it is a disadvantage to do all your bench press work (flat and incline etc) using just dumbells, does it make a difference?

23-04-2004, 03:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
ricardinho Under Construction Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power:	- Thanks for the advice. Yeah i still get pain if it's light. I never warm my wrists up, I will give this a go. Any suggestions for exercises to warm them up? Or is it just a matter of doing circles with your wrists?

23-04-2004, 04:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
IanUK Making Progress Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: England Posts: 348 Rep Power:	Straps might not help in the long run and unless you have an actual injury they might be counter active and make your wrists weaker than before. Dumbell press is fine and probab;y more productive because you need more stabaliser muscles to control two dumbells than one bar, i say stick with it. ______________________ You can never have enough protein!

24-04-2004, 04:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
garethxxx Making Progress Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 190 Rep Power:	I agree with IanUK on this one. Try some gloves and warming up a little. If you have a Smith machine in the gym use that, you dont even really need to take a good grip on that one, also the Hammer smith machine is superb as little grip is needed and less pressure on the wrists is applied. If you are using dumb bells, you will often notice that you can get stronger much quicker as well, as IanUK said. Its almost like a form of isolation exercies. I do a blend of both, but am ill at the moment and am not getting any gains, so am having a rest for a while. Try changing your routine a little as well, that might help, and dont skimp out on calcium. Keep us informed! ______________________ "Living life at 18stone 10lbs is painful. Losing weight is a challenge. Feeling better about yourself after losing 6 stone...now thats worth it" Gareth Lock 01/01/04

20-06-2004, 10:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
robemrachki Under Construction Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3 Rep Power:	LOWER CHEST SOME1 HELP LOL,I THINK IVE GOT BITCH TITS,I CANNOT GET A PUMP OUT OF MY CHEST IT NEVER ACHES THE DAY AFTER AND MY LOWER CHEST IS SOFT. IVE TRIED PULLOVERS DECLINE DIPS YOU NAME IT IVE TRIED IT. MY STRENGH IS GOING UP BUT MY CHEST IS NOT HARDENING UP SOME1 HELP, PS DOES ANY1 KNOW OF ANY SUPPLEMENTS OUT THERE WHICH WILL PUMP MY CHEST UP LEGALLY LOL

23-04-2004, 11:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
vinger Making Progress Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: manchester Posts: 348 Rep Power:	If your having pain with a barbell and not dumbels that suggests to me that your not flexible enough in your wrists. Try warming them up first. Personnly i would have thought it to be a disadvantage not to be able to use a barbell as u can handle less weight with dumbells. Does it hurt with a barbell even if its light? If not, make smaller increases.

23-04-2004, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
vinger Making Progress Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: manchester Posts: 348 Rep Power:	No probs . I circle my wrists, mine hurt aswell if i dont. Another sugestion would be wrist straps. Never tried em myself but might be worth ago mate.

23-04-2004, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
mark Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: England Posts: 365 Rep Power:	One of the lads I train with wears them - Infact he never takes them off - he says they help his grip with everything!

25-04-2004, 02:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
ricardinho Under Construction Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power:	Cheers for all the advice lads, much appreciated.

20-06-2004, 05:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
bukem Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 31 Rep Power:	I used to get pain in my wrists from benching and alot of bicep work too. I'm also a brickie so it was beggining to bother me quite a bit. I started using straps and the pain has gone completely. I wear them all the time at the gym now. Also I've got to bump the db press, it's much better for development the bar work. You get a more even workout becuase each arm works individually as with a bar when if one side is lagging the other can compensate to keep the bar moving. The only time I ever bar bench is if I'm working towards a new 1rm.

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