Many athletes faced a problem when, after training, the arm at the elbow does not extend. The state is accompanied by pain when lifting weights or with any, even small, load. Why is this happening, how can this be avoided, what to do in this case, and which specialist to ask for help? You will learn all this by reading this article.
Main factor
Often people decide to go to the gym before the summer beach season and think that in a month of intensive training their unprepared body will take on wonderful shapes. However, exorbitant loads can harm the body, not accustomed to such frequent activities.
Therefore, traumatic situations most often happen to beginners. Sometimes the causes of pain and the fact that the arm does not extend in the elbow after training can be joint pathology, which a person might not have suspected until they made themselves felt after an increased load.
Common causes of pain
When entering the gym for the first time, a novice athlete painstakingly performs all the exercises given to him by the trainer, so that he would not be ashamed of experienced “pitching”. Naturally, an organism that is not used to such loads responds with pain throughout the body. Beginners believe that if the whole body hurts, then they worked hard. But this is a completely wrong approach.
After training, the athlete should feel pleasant fatigue in the muscles, but not at all severe pain. Let's look at what happens in the human body after heavy exertion:
- if the muscles are poorly warmed up and stretched, and the person began to work on power simulators, then painful sensations may appear in connection with microcracks of the muscles, which eventually become inflamed and very painful;
- a person may experience pain as a burning sensation. This suggests that you are overworked. A lot of lactic acid is produced in the tissues, which interferes with normal blood circulation. At this time, oxygen deficiency is observed, and the muscles refuse to perform contractile movements, which leads to the fact that the elbow does not bend after training. Most often, such a problem appears after increased exercise on the biceps of the arms;
- sprain occurs with sudden movements of the hands, for example, when jerking at the time of lifting the bar. This happens when the athlete paid little time to warm up and warm up the muscles, did not do stretching exercises;
- dislocation of the joint also causes severe pain and failure of the limb in motion. Here you definitely need to contact a specialist for help;
- poor metabolism in muscle tissue. This is a chemical process in which the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates occurs in order to release the energy necessary for training. In this case, toxins are released, which are normally eliminated through the capillary network. This requires a lot of oxygen. If the discharge occurs slowly, then all these decay products accumulate in the tissues, which leads to pain and malfunction of the elbow joint.
The appearance of edema
Swelling can be the reason that the elbow does not stretch to the end after training. Swelling of the elbow joint can occur for the following reasons:
- the body is not yet accustomed to physical activity;
- overstrain after increased training can cause microtrauma and sprain, which leads to edema;
- inflammatory processes in the joints.
Pathological factors
It can be painful to extend the arm at the elbow after training due to diseases of the spine and joints:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic. Although mobility is maintained in the elbow, it is very painful to extend and bend the arm.
- Epicondylitis of the elbow joint. This is an inflammatory process of tendons after strong physical exertion. Manifested by pain in the elbow with grasping, rotational movements, lifting the load. External changes are not visible, however, pain occurs on palpation.
- Arthrosis can be a consequence of a past injury or hormonal imbalance in the body. Pain occurs with flexion-extensor movements, sometimes accompanied by a crunch. If treatment is not started in time, then bone growths are formed on the bones, which can subsequently lead to the fact that the elbow generally stops stretching to the end.
- Arthritic inflammation of the joints can lead to the fact that the arm does not extend in the elbow after training. The sore spot swells and the skin color changes.
5. Bursitis may develop due to arthritis. There is swelling on the back side of the elbow bend from the accumulation of fluid in the synovial bag of the ulnar process.
Identification of the cause
You can understand the true reason why the arm at the elbow does not extend after training, after consultation with a doctor. If the pain is temporary, then the correct organization of the loads will help, a good warm-up before the main activity. After training, it is advisable to massage the limbs, grind muscles to get rid of lactic acid in the tissues.
A hot shower will help to relax, and salt baths can relieve stress and inflammation from the elbow. If the pain is strong and prolonged, then do not hesitate, it is better to go to the therapist and check the condition of the joint.
First aid for edema
It is painful to extend the elbow after training in a healthy person from the accumulation of lactic acid in the tissues. To relieve pain, reduce swelling in the elbow joint and restore former activity to hand movements, you need to know how to provide first aid after training.
A fitness trainer may recommend an athlete take a warm bath with sea salt. This will relieve muscle tension and joint inflammation. It will be enough 15 minutes for the procedure.
Self-massage after training will restore blood circulation, remove limb numbness and speed up metabolism. A steam room with a broom will help to recover well.
If swelling is accompanied by a change in skin color or a hematoma, then you need to urgently go to the doctor.
First aid for tearing a ligament
If after training you find that a sharp pain, swelling appeared in the elbow, a bruise appeared, it is impossible to move your hand and elbow, and deformation of the elbow joint is visually visible, then most likely you have a ligament rupture. First of all, you need to apply cold to a sore spot, for example, ice wrapped in a napkin, and immobilize your hand, fixing it with a tire.
Around the elbow, you can do a light massage, but only where there is no pain. This will speed up blood flow and reduce pain. Never take a hot shower or warm the break. After a couple of days, when the pain subsides and the swelling subsides, you can apply warm compresses and begin to develop your hands in smooth movements.
If at home it was not possible to cope with the problem, and pain and swelling, on the contrary, only increase, you need to see a doctor.
Doctors help
Perhaps there is a dislocation of the joint or sprain. Radiography will help to understand the cause of the inflammatory process, whether there are pathological changes in the joints or bones.
In any case, you can’t continue training. If your elbows do not bend after a workout, give your hands complete rest and seek medical attention immediately. If pain occurs only in the left elbow, then this may indicate the presence of heart disease. The doctor in this case will prescribe an ECG.
If a general blood test showed the presence of coccal infection, then the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment. If a nerve infringement has occurred, the athlete will be sent for a consultation with a neurologist.
If the X-ray shows that there is a crack or fracture on the elbow, the surgeon will apply a plaster cast. Then special exercises will be required to develop the joint and restore its mobility.
Now you know the possible reasons for not bending the elbow after exertion and will be able to give yourself and your comrades first aid in time. Be healthy!