Elbow pain after doing a tricep workout can involve various parts of the elbow, including the tendons, joints, ligaments and bones. It can be extremely painful and debilitating, making even simple movements like lifting your child or pet unbearable. Because it can sometimes be caused by a serious condition or injury, it is important to understand what causes exercise-related elbow pain and how it can be remedied.
Causes
Pain in the elbow after working out the triceps muscles can occur if you overwork your body. Pain can also develop if you sprain or strain a muscle or ligament or accidentally fall on your elbow during your workout. A condition called "tennis elbow," a form of tendinitis that can develop if you repeatedly perform the same motions during your tricep workout, can also cause elbow pain.
Treatments
To treat exercise-related elbow pain, apply an ice pack to your elbow two or three times throughout the day. This will help constrict the blood vessels and decrease inflammation and pain. If the pain is mild to moderate, take an over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease symptoms. If the pain is severe, immobilize your arm by wrapping it in a splint or bandage and call a doctor. Tendinitis, torn ligaments or ruptured muscles will require surgery.
Tips
Avoid pain by refraining from doing the same triceps workout day after day. Train other muscles, such as your rotator cuff and scapular muscles, which will help strengthen supporting muscles and prevent misuse and injury. Give your muscles a 48-hour break between workouts. Always warm up your muscles before a workout -- do arm circles and stretches to increase the blood flow in the muscles and make you less susceptible to injury.
Considerations
Do not let elbow pain go untreated -- this will just increase your risk of further injury, such as muscle rupture. It can also cause symptoms to linger or reoccur quickly after you recover. Gradually resume exercise when the pain in your elbow subsides. Do low-intensity exercise to maintain range-of-motion and mobility. This will also help direct blood to the injured area, which will accelerate the healing process.
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