Expert: Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP - 9/11/2009

Question
I'm a 25 year old male and have done weight training moderately since high school. Most recently, my right elbow has been causing me some pain but only when doing specific movements, namely the bench press or dumbbell chest press. In the past it has "loosened up" after warming up with several sets but now it seems to be getting worse and my elbow feels sore for days afterwords. It feels like something is about to pop or tear during the actual movements. My other elbow is fine and the rest of my body can handle the weight so I'm reluctant to decrease the amount I do. My primary doctor is very conservative and I know he'll tell me to just massively decrease the weight and stay away from weight-training in general. What do you think?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Luke,

At 25, you likely don't have an arthritic elbow, so we're dealing with an elbow joint system that is being strained by the weight-lifting.  The elbow joint system, with ligaments, muscles and tendons is somehow undergoing some sort of tissue failure.  Sometimes it is healthy tissue that is repetitively strained and thus becomes more susceptible to further strain and breakdown (as compared to the good elbow).  Or, sometimes it is a malfunctioning elbow, one that loses it's normal joint tracking movement.  This creates a situation where the elbow loses it's function at a time when you don't want it to: during the chest press.   Either way, a skilled sports chiropractor can fix this.  You must receive some examination to determine if there are any specific tendons that are problematic as well as to rule out any disease process.   Also, the sports chiro should isometrically test your triceps strength, with your elbow at a 90 degree bend, and with your elbow in a stable position resting on the testers' thigh.  Your triceps must be tested both with wrist flexion and with wrist extension, and any loss of triceps strength is a sign of joint malfunction.   The sports chiropractor should do skilled manipulation to the elbow and also some targeted soft tissue therapy to the surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, etc..   If all goes really well, you'll have little to no pain on bench press following one or two treatment sessions.   This scenario is all well and good so long as you do not have any major orthopedic diseases with the elbow.   That's why a sports chiropractor may be the best to examine you prior to treatment.  Go to www.acbsp.com and also www.grastontechnique.com    See if you can find a match!  

'Hope this was helpful.

Dr. G