During dips, and only during dips, the last two fingers on my right hand burn after two or three reps and just plain hurt after five to seven. I’ve tried adjusting my grip by placing my wrist differently and tried wearing gloves, but nothing helps.
The odd thing is nothing else causes it. I can bench my body weight a couple of times and never have the pain, so I don’t think it’s just the load. Lastly, I tried the assisted dip machine and even if I just put five pounds on it, I don’t usually have the pain. Now that I think about it, the assisted machine has the handles a bit further apart, maybe that’s it?
I guess my question is what do you think is causing it, and is there anythign I can do about it. Assisted dips are too easy for me now, but obviously I can’t use a dip belt if my own body weight causes my hand to hurt.
The issue for you is that you are impinging a portion of your brachial plexus at the C8 nerve root (ulnar nerve), or that is at least what I am getting from your description.
When you are in the bottom portion of your dip, the brachial plexus is being pressed against the coracoid process of your scapula and the clavicle.
How to fix this? Couple things:
Look at your form during dips. If you feel that your shoulders are coming closer together, you really need to concentrate on keeping your chest up more to move the shoulders apart. Especially at the bottom portion of the exercise.
Stretch your pecs (clavicular head) and strengthen your lower traps.
That is some really easy stuff I can tell you. However, this is all based on the minimal symptoms you are presenting with. If this doesn’t help it, lemme know.
[quote]the MaxX wrote:
The issue for you is that you are impinging a portion of your brachial plexus at the C8 nerve root (ulnar nerve), or that is at least what I am getting from your description.
When you are in the bottom portion of your dip, the brachial plexus is being pressed against the coracoid process of your scapula and the clavicle.
How to fix this? Couple things:
Look at your form during dips. If you feel that your shoulders are coming closer together, you really need to concentrate on keeping your chest up more to move the shoulders apart. Especially at the bottom portion of the exercise.
Stretch your pecs (clavicular head) and strengthen your lower traps.
That is some really easy stuff I can tell you. However, this is all based on the minimal symptoms you are presenting with. If this doesn’t help it, lemme know.[/quote]
I’m sorry, I meant first rib, not coracoid plexus. Sorry about that.