What can I say, I’ve gradually developed what seems to be a W-I-C-K-E-D case of tennis elbow the past couple months and I’m not sure why.
I had been training hard for 70.3 fitness, then about 2-3 months ago got inspired by bike racing and haven’t looked back. I’ve done about 20 crits, a dozen road races, and a lot of hard training rides on the road bike. I recently started doing sprint training and sprint drills. I started noticing a little elbow pain and it has gradually intensified the past month.
So—I sort of assumed that the pain is from cycling: arms too straight, grip too tight, overuse, etc.----like a tennis elbow thing but from cycling. (No it is NOT my jack off arm, it’ my left arm).
BUT----I have virtually Z-E-R-O pain while raging around on the bike. drops, hoods, tops, sprinting, climbing, tucked, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t hurt. It’s just when I try to pick up my backpack or get the endurox off the top shelf or do a pullup—then the pain is merciless throughout the outside of my elbow, and I have no grip/arm strength.
HELP! Anyone experience tennis elbow from cycling? or have any insights about what the hell is going on or what to do about it???
I never ceased to be amazed by the helpful advice on here so i figure it’s worth a shot.
I have had it recently from long descents on my road bike. Same pain I had back in high school playing third base. I also don’t notice it at all while riding.
you think it’s from “overgripping” the hell out of the bars while descending? I am probably guilty of over gripping 99% of the time in big crits (b/c I am terrified :-))
or just putting too much weight on arms/joints? That’s interesting that you notice it being from big descents.
Let me know if you find a good way to treat or prevent it!
I am definitely guilty of hyperextending my arms at the elbows and holding a death grip when doing super fast steep descents. I think if I bent at the elbow it would probably help. I think it’s from descents because I felt it after a recent ride that had a 5000 foot descent and also another 1500 foot descent. Felt fine after my last long ride with minimal climbing.
Got mine from swimming. And there isn’t much good news to give you. Be prepared for a 6 month to a year pain. I dealt with the pain until after finishing my first Ironman then had surgery. Can’t really say surgery helped one bit. Hang in there, and go get a cortisone shot for a week’s worth of relief. I have zero medical background, but I’m guessing those who do will tell you that ice and rest will be your best shot.
What can I say, I’ve gradually developed what seems to be a W-I-C-K-E-D case of tennis elbow the past couple months and I’m not sure why.
I had been training hard for 70.3 fitness, then about 2-3 months ago got inspired by bike racing and haven’t looked back. I’ve done about 20 crits, a dozen road races, and a lot of hard training rides on the road bike. I recently started doing sprint training and sprint drills. I started noticing a little elbow pain and it has gradually intensified the past month.
So—I sort of assumed that the pain is from cycling: arms too straight, grip too tight, overuse, etc.----like a tennis elbow thing but from cycling. **(No it is NOT my jack off arm, it’ my left arm). **
**Maybe you need to switch arms for that? You might have a muscle imbalance. **
Plus - it makes it seem strange and mysterious, like you’re with somebody new.
BUT----I have virtually Z-E-R-O pain while raging around on the bike. drops, hoods, tops, sprinting, climbing, tucked, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t hurt. It’s just when I try to pick up my backpack or get the endurox off the top shelf or do a pullup—then the pain is merciless throughout the outside of my elbow, and I have no grip/arm strength.
HELP! Anyone experience tennis elbow from cycling? or have any insights about what the hell is going on or what to do about it???
I never ceased to be amazed by the helpful advice on here so i figure it’s worth a shot.
That is a sobering thought that this elbow pain crap could last a while-----dirt diesel, did you develop yours from cycling? what was the diagnosis that led to the surgery?
re: the “switching hands” comment: wow, i thought I was being a little racy but you took it to a whole new level LOL. Funny thing is I went to see my bros at the bike shop today and described it to them and asked them about bike fit, double taping bars, etc. and they IMMEDIATELY starting making innappropriate gestures insinuating the cause of my elbow pain------but sadly it is true i probably do have a muscle imbalance related to that. I usually rock climb a lot, but not this summer, just racin’ bikes----and my wife moved to another state this year just sayin’
anyway, keep the advice coming pleez. who else has experienced extreme “tennis elbow” type pain from cycling? and how did you deal with it? thank you all in advance.
dirt diesel----yes I am retarded I just read you got yours from swimming (not cycling). That makes me wonder what else I do that could have triggered it. Does anyone think it could be from sleeping on it weird or in a weird position? I often wake up with my arms contorted in weird chicken-wing type configurations but I have no idea why or how to prevent it short of duct taping my arms to my sides, etc.
Had the same issue. For me it was caused by draping my hands over the brake hoods. I now make a conscious effort to hold the sides of the hoods to keep my wrist in line with my forearm (it actually keeps the whole arm aligned); problem solved.
I think the best cure for tennis elbow is to catch it early and don’t ignore it. But, you apparently did what I did and hoped it would get better. Brings to mind the old saying “wish in one hand, and shit in the other and lets see which one fills up first.”
My diagnosis was regular tennis elbow. Probably was a mix of weights and swimming that caused it. Got so bad I couldn’t shake hands or even pick up a glass off the floor without thinking I would drop it. The doc kept telling me it wouldn’t get better unless I quit all activity for a LONG time. Chose the surgery which some sort of “pull the skin back and scrape it with it something.” Should have paid more attention to details because that surgery SUCKED and I don’t really think it helped. Surgery was in December and I still have some pain in the elbow. Once you have tennis elbow, everything you do irritates it. Including sleeping in a bad position. Can make it tough to single out the culprit.
With all that said, my sample size is 1. Might be hard to apply anything that happened with me to your case.
Oh yeah, I always overgrip. Do you use hand cream? It helps a lot.
you think it’s from “overgripping” the hell out of the bars while descending? I am probably guilty of over gripping 99% of the time in big crits (b/c I am terrified :-))
or just putting too much weight on arms/joints? That’s interesting that you notice it being from big descents.
Let me know if you find a good way to treat or prevent it!
I just give the hoods a little slap on the sides. Alignment is important.
Had the same issue. For me it was caused by draping my hands over the brake hoods. I now make a conscious effort to hold the sides of the hoods to keep my wrist in line with my forearm (it actually keeps the whole arm aligned); problem solved.
The weird positions can be dangerous. You have to warm up first and do some light stretching.
dirt diesel----yes I am retarded I just read you got yours from swimming (not cycling). That makes me wonder what else I do that could have triggered it. Does anyone think it could be from sleeping on it weird or in a weird position? I often wake up with my arms contorted in weird chicken-wing type configurations but I have no idea why or how to prevent it short of duct taping my arms to my sides, etc.
Got mine from my back. I get a few chair massages and it clears right up.
I get wicked elbow pain when swimming when the cycling goes up. For whatever reason, the back issues I have from a spinal injury many many years ago, flair up my upper back and I get huge knots between the shoulder blades. It causes my elbows (mostly the right) to hurt like hell. Took a few years to figure it out. It really gets bad when I start spending more time on the TT bike.
Jump into one of those $20 chair massages and see if it helps.
dude that is super interesting the elbow pain is generated from the back. i feel like my back is totally whacked out from training and racing on the road bike so much. I’ve been wanting a massage (never had one) so bad any way lately…I will definitely give that a shot.
I am just back from my Orthopedist yesterday for a treatment on this exact problem.
I’m pretty sure I caused mine over the X-mas holidays with a couple fooseball marathons against my
house guests. (I guess in HS I must have had really strong wrists for some reason… now that I’m a married man
my wrists don’t get the workout they used to )
Anyways - I had a handshake like a grandma for a few months… and even 6 months later it was sore. Similar to you,
I could ride, swim, mountain bike, etc… without any limitations. But it hurt and was not healing.
Yesterday I went to see the Doc (who is a freakin’ stud athlete - 3:00 marathon, 300lb bench press. Not a real big club)
and he gave me a steroid injection. Today my arm pain is mostly gone.
whoa. instant relief from the injection, eh? PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW if the pain stays away the next few days and weeks. (and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way----but a serious orthapedic injury from foosball is pretty hilarious…you guys must really throw down on the foosball)
I just give the hoods a little slap on the sides. Alignment is important.
Had the same issue. For me it was caused by draping my hands over the brake hoods. I now make a conscious effort to hold the sides of the hoods to keep my wrist in line with my forearm (it actually keeps the whole arm aligned); problem solved.
Yup, mine are canted in about 10deg. (courtesy of my fitter). Looks a bit wierd at first, but ergo-wise it’s all good.
