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If I can't do curls, what's a good bicep alternative?

post #1 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 
Every time I curl my left arm with any weight on it, I get a sickening pop once I hit about the 45 degree mark. This is probably the result of dislocating my elbow when I was a kid. I'm no doctor, but it seems to me like it's a tendon rolling over an edge of bone or something like that. I don't know if it actually harmful, but it's disconcerting either way. So if i don't want to do full curls, what are my options for biceps?
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post #2 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:17pm
Just be weak forever
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post #3 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:24pm
well the natural thing to say is: "man up and do curls" but in reality curls are the last exercise I care about - there is a million other things to do before that. Can you squat, deadlift, press? cause that's kinda all you need.
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post #4 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:27pm
Can you do pullups, chins, deadlifts, iron cross, rows?
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post #5 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:30pm
close grip chins and you can also attach a rope to a bunch of plates and pull it towards you.
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post #6 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:38pm
Pullups, chinups, hammer curls?, rows.
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post #7 of 20
3/25/09 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
I can do everything except curls and their derivatives. The problem with pullups is I never feel like they have the breaking-down power of curls.
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post #8 of 20
3/25/09 at 9:11pm
Meh. Build up your chinning strength and work towards a one-arm chin.
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post #9 of 20
3/25/09 at 9:23pm
Another vote for chin-ups. Rows with palms facing forward will also do the trick.
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post #10 of 20
3/25/09 at 9:46pm
I'd say get a doctor to see what's up with your arm first. if you can't do curls I don't see how you'd be able to do chins without popping whatever it is that goes pop.
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post #11 of 20
3/26/09 at 12:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philosoph View Post
Build up your chinning strength

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedLantern View Post
Pullups, chinups

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Originally Posted by thekunk07 View Post
close grip chins.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Philosoph View Post
pullups, chinups?

Quote:
Originally Posted by APK View Post
Another vote for chin-ups.


+1

Chin/Pull-ups and their weighted variations, does the body good.
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post #12 of 20
3/26/09 at 2:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
Every time I curl my left arm with any weight on it, I get a sickening pop once I hit about the 45 degree mark. This is probably the result of dislocating my elbow when I was a kid. I'm no doctor, but it seems to me like it's a tendon rolling over an edge of bone or something like that. I don't know if it actually harmful, but it's disconcerting either way. So if i don't want to do full curls, what are my options for biceps?

I have this same thing in my left arm. Although, I don't know if by "pop", you mean that it's audible? Mine is not audible unless you listen very carefully, and happens with any flexion of my arm, regardless of weight load. I don't believe mine is the result of any injury. Also, it has not hindered my ability to lift weights, and I've been doing so for about 9 years.
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post #13 of 20
3/26/09 at 5:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
I can do everything except curls and their derivatives. The problem with pullups is I never feel like they have the breaking-down power of curls.

Seriously? Then wear a chain belt and add weight - I doubt you'll be able to pull your bodyweight + 50 lbs consistently without some serious arm/back strength. As much of a burn you may feel in your biceps from doing curls, you're really not doing all that much.

Chins on the other hand...
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post #14 of 20
3/27/09 at 12:30pm
pull-ups
any back exercises will help work out your biceps
synthol
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post #15 of 20
3/27/09 at 1:18pm
unless you have an absolute stack of muscle on you then you should not be doing curls. isolation exercises are only necessary to shape and define large muscles, not for your beginner or even intermediate weightlifter.
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