Warmth is my new best friend

tomcornhole

I have had tendinitis issues in both shoulders for many years and it got worse when I started lifting. Getting under the bar for low bar squats has always been a very painful evolution. And I think I whatever I was doing to my shoulders under the bar translated to pain in the presses. Just a vicious circle of suck.

So after my most wonderful experience with knee sleeves keeping my knees toasty warm and how great that felt, I got one of these to "pre-heat" my right shoulder on squat day:



After a 10 min warmup on the treadmill with the heat on the shoulder, I got under the bar and felt no pain. And for the first time ever, I could get my wrists on top of the bar and "locked" the bar on my traps. It was a magical squat day. Didn't lift any extra weight but actually enjoyed my time under the bar instead of cringing the whole time.

I think warm parts work a ton better than cold ones. Nothing new, of course, but everything I put a sleeve on for warmth feels 100 times better while lifting and 1,000 times better after lifting. Maybe I'll wear a wet suit while lifting.

Tom

steve_mfp

Haha...good to know.

I've used the sleeves for my knees but thinking elbows too now from your results.

Also i tend to keep my body warm while lifting, i wear the light weight thermals, top and bottom, mostly for wicking purposes, then t-shirt and shorts, then heavy hooded sweatshirt and pants.

My shoulders have been pretty banged up, i might give this thing a try. Both have been separated twice and the popped the right one out once...maybe more than once...meh...either way if i lay on my side for too long my should goes numb and i switch to the other side until it goes numb...=)

Good info Tom!

Hmmm wonder if we should throw some Capsaicin underneath all of it too...

tomcornhole

Steve, thanks for the reply. I normally work out in my basement which is cold anyway. And then just shorts and a t-shirt. Today I decided to wear sweat pants, t-shirt and sweat shirt. For warmup and lifting. That worked great. Much warmer overall and the lift went great. I really like being toasty warm. And I found a good use for a nylon weight belt: I wore it loose around my lower bak and that made for a very toasty core. Didn't use it for core stability because I was benching, just for the extra warmth. It's still too early too tell if lifting on the warm side helps, but it sure is more enjoyable.

My wife asked me why I don't just warm up more and I had to think about that. I could, I guess, but then 15 minutes into the lift, the warmth is gone if I don't wear the right clothes. So that's what I told her.

I ordered up a pair Rehband compression pants and Rehband compression T as well. Going full body toasty once they come in.

Stay warm, my friends.

Tom

steve_mfp

Tom, these are a few other things i use for joint/tendon/ligament health:

Omega 3/6/9 oils

http://www.nowfoods.com/Omega-3-6-9-1000mg-100-Softgels.htm

Glucosamine and Chondroitin (liquid because my stomach is a wuss and it also doesn't cause the sulfur fumes for me.)

http://www.nowfoods.com/Liquid-Glucosamine-and-Chondroitin-with-MSM-16oz.htm

Glucosamine, MSM & Arnica Lotion - I love this stuff. Joints don't have amazing blood flow so if i can even get a fraction of some absorbtion from the outside it is worth it. I can't recommend this stuff enough, it always makes the knees feel better. Even my skeptical mother uses it now..."this smells funny...it's not going to do anything." Now i buy it monthly for her...LOL

http://www.nowfoods.com/Glucosamine-MSM-and-Arnica-Liposome-Lotion-8-fl-oz.htm

I also use earth magnets to help with healing on elbows and knees specifically. Those joints suck for blood flow and if they are swollen blood flow is hampered even more. I've found that the wraps with earth magnets substantially decreases healing time. I tried to find the kit i used. It was made by homemedica and it was different wraps that you could insert the magnets in to. But a quick google search is not bring it up.

Tiger Balm makes some good ointments and are based on traditional ointments used in China and Japan. I make my own formulas but if i'm lazy or don't have the proper ingredients I use Tiger Balm. This is great for bone bruises and the finger joints.

http://www.tigerbalm.com/us/pages/categories