You Know A Sport Is Real By The Ability To Get Injured Competing In It
While I do not outright agree with Devon Larratt’s philosophy of, “if I didn’t get injured competing, I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough,” there is some merit to pushing yourself and adding intensity to your armwrestling regimen. However, and most importantly, it is critical to understand what might be going on with your arm if you feel a new pain before, during, or after armwrestling.
For your sake, if you feel pain, don’t try to push through. Sports injuries can set you back months. If you are competing, then it is a different story.
A Throbbing Pain Radiating Down Your Arm
Luckily, an injury that is a dull throb radiating up or down your arm is usually the sign of something less severe, hence the less severe pain. It can be one of two things—usually.
Bicep Tendonitis:
This injury is quite common in armwrestling and comes from the overuse of your bicep. It can be felt at the elbow joint, or it can be felt towards the top of your shoulder. The overuse of your bicep causes this pain to develop. If you feel this pain, stop, rest, compress, elevate, and ice your bicep for at least two weeks. Also, scheduling an appointment with a licensed medical professional is a good idea.
Rotator Cuff Injury:
With a complex joint like the shoulder, one would think it would evolve to support the complex range of motion it supports. Well, your shoulder, like your lower back, is an evolutionary travesty regarding musculoskeletal design. When you move your bicep to adjust for your opponent’s pull, it is common to mess up your shoulder. Your rotator cuff can partially tear or become injured. Again, rest, compress, elevate, and ice as you should for at least two to three weeks. Please schedule an appointment with a licensed medical professional. Your rotator cuff is essential to your arm.
A Sharp Pain, A Snap, Bruising From The Depths Of Hell, And Fire Like Pain
If you have felt this while armwrestling, I regret to inform you that you have most likely torn your bicep.
This is the worst-case scenario for armwrestling injuries.
A distal bicep tear is when the bicep detaches from your elbow joint and rolls up into the arm like a yo-yo. Please, please go to the emergency room ASAP if this happens to you. It is a scary injury with severe, painful consequences. Unfortunately, in intense sports that require pulling (armwrestling, gymnastics, powerlifting), a sudden snap of the bicep and a complete rupture often happens. Armwrestling is a sport that can require surgery, unfortunately.
Parting Thoughts On Armwrestling Injuries, Armwrestling Shoulder Pain, And Armwrestling Bicep Pain
If you are ever in doubt and are in a lot of discomfort, please seek the advice of a doctor. Injury is part of sports training. Recovery is part of sports training. You don’t want something treatable to get out of hand and keep you off the table of armwrestling champions.
The key to becoming a great armwrestler is continued training. The best way to continue training is to keep your arms and body healthy! Rest up and pull hard!