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Bicep Curls

MotherGoose Posts: 21 Joined: 2004/10/07	2004/10/28, 11:04 PM Barbell or Dumbell? Differences? I've been using barbells so far, but for some reason, a lot of stress is placed on my chess (and abs). I can't feel as much stress on my biceps (I'm fairly sure I'm performing them with correct form). Suggestions?
kakaroto Posts: 893 Joined: 2002/05/09	2004/10/28, 11:16 PM if you do them correctly, nothin else should hurt. if it hurts and you are not hitting that body part,it is because that part of your body is not strong at all... change to dumbells for a while then return to barbells and see what happends...
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2004/10/28, 11:54 PM If you are using straight bar, give EZ bar a try. Any way it goes, a correct curling motion should not give pain anywhere else. Biceps are very small muscles, and very easy to isolate. The elbow is your fulcrum, nothing else should move in the motion. -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
MotherGoose Posts: 21 Joined: 2004/10/07	2004/10/29, 05:02 AM Odd though, only my forearms move in the motion. It's not like my chest moves, but I still feel a tightening in my chest and abs when I curl. No EZ bar at the gym, perhaps I'll try dumbells.
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2004/10/29, 10:19 AM A great way to isolate biceps is seated incline dumbbells. Set an incline bench at about a 30-40 degree angle. Now lean back against the back, drop the dumbbells down along your sides perpendicular so your arms are hanging straight down. Now, either curl them up simultaneously or alternately, whichever you prefer....go just past the "breaking" point coming up where the bicep breaks and takes the tension off. Drop back down slowly and repeat. These will give a massive biceps pump if done correctly. -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/10/29, 10:54 AM I agree with BB1. He knows what he's talking about. I just tried some curls to figure out what you may be doing incorrectly to get the chest involved. Mechanically, it seems that the chest gets involved when I squeeze my elbows against my body or if I throw my elbows out away from my body. My chest also gets invloved if I lean my shoulders forward to "meet" the weight. It seems to be a way to involve additional muscles to compensate for a weaker muscle group. If you must use a barbell, try lowering the weight to where your elbows are against your body but aren't pressing in or flopping out. Also, make sure that your shoulders aren't moving even an inch. I agree that dumbbells would be better to start with. Good luck. -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. - Carl Zwanzig Jonathan
panchanka Posts: 9 Joined: 2003/07/16	2004/10/29, 01:05 PM I usually have the same problem when I come back from a long break. It is because (proportionally speaking) your bicepts are stronger than your chest and abs. With regular chest and ab exercises, you should no longer feel sore in those spots when you do curls.
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/10/29, 01:10 PM get a arm blaster....its a metal thing you put under your arms.......works great, no shoulder or chest used.....all biceps...however you have to use less weight. -------------- ....I'm probably in my underwear typing this......or maybe not!