Should You STOP Doing Bicep Curls?

What if bicep curls were damaging your shoulder function? Should you stop doing them completely? What if you're a bodybuilder or overhead athlete?

Coach E and Dr. B dive into WHO shoulder stop doing bicep curls (or at least reduce the number of reps). They also show cover what happens when you keep doing bicep curls while in shoulder pain. Hint: they're related. Dr. B also explains what bodybuilders and overhead/throwing athletes need to know about bicep curls in relation to their long-term shoulder health.

You'll then get four exercises you can do to safely strengthen your bicep without running the risks Dr. B talks about in the first part of the video.

Remember the form cues! You'll need either a pullup bar or rowing-motion equipment and dumbbells.

Exercise 1 improves your shoulder range of motion.  Remember to start off by slowly ramping up contraction. In Exercise 2,  you'll need a wall to lean on. Avoid hyper-extending your low back. For Exercise 3, pay attention to your wrist positioning. Keep them in neutral. Then, pay attention to what you're doing with your shoulders. Finally, for Exercise 4, notice your shoulder positioning both when you start and as you progress in your reps.

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IN THIS VIDEO
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Shoulder Pain/Injury
03:55 - Overhead Athletes e.g. Baseball, Tennis
05:12 - Bodybuilders
06:52 - Exercise 1: Extended Elbow Wrist Fl-Ex
10:23 - Exercise 2: Shoulder Rotation Robot
12:36 - Exercise 3: Pull Exercises
15:19 - Exercise 4: Bicep Curls
16:47 - Routine Summary
17:49 - Next Steps

[RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED]

[Medical Disclaimer] The medical information on any/all of our content is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.

[cococat]

I've recently had shoulder pain, even in my good shoulder, and I was wondering why. I had been lifting pretty regularly for about 4 months with bicep curls included 3-4 days per week. Learning how/why that can be damaging to the shoulder was really helpful. Great video guys.

[smas]

I'm watching because the more I know I don't have impingement pain and I'm not an athlete.
The first exercise I could feel pull in my lateral wrist w. a little cracking.
Amazing. Yesterday the palm of my R. hand was in pain, #8 and a 10 when I touched my palm to massage it. Pain scale .
Lots of work researching safe canning methods. Pain free gardening Thanks to you and a happy garden too. In my mid 70's. Blessings and thanks from U.S.A.

[PrasadSrinivasIM]

You are surely a legend, changing the lives of many!

[michaellyonsca]

This nailed all the problems I'm having! Thanks so much, guys. I've also subscribed to the should solution, and I'm looking forward to the version 2! Thanks again!

[MrKnochen]

Thank you.
A video about supinator pain would be interesting.

[susanv]

Thank you so much for this video. I found out I have an impingement last year, and it still bothers me off and on. Hard to know which strengthening exercises are safe!

[alvaromunozestrada]

Thank you for this valuable information!

[trainforlife]

Great information!! Listen to her, seriously. I just got a biceps tear… get this; unscrewing a bolt with my arm extended. I felt the stabbing pain and pop and the bolt wasn’t even very tight. But that was the result of years of neglecting pain in my shoulder.

[edwigcarol]

10:00 just as with the leg - full extenxion of the knee, VMO ramped up, dorsi and plantar flexion of the foot - but with the arm - full extension of the elbow, biceps ramped up, extension amd flexion of the wrist, fingers flared.
Balancing the 3 joints of the arm, shoulder, elbow and wrist. Improving shoulder function finally.
(😊 Doable with a biceps as tiny as a mouse..)

❤ Details on rotation robot

PULL : Presentation of chin up and pull upp

[chrispagnotta]

I have had an MRI and ultrasound of the shoulder. The doctors do not see an issue, but my shoulder is in a lot of pain. I have a lot of pain in external rotation. I have a hard time even doing isometric external rotation against a wall, but i have been able to slowly start doing this. Bicep curls do not bother me, so I am wondering if this is impingement. Moving my arm out in front of me like the video really hurts

[isaarunarom]

my favorite exersies are pull ups and bicep curls. im a rock climber aka overhead athlet and i gave up rock climbing for body building because iu hurt my shoulder and bicep to many times. im litterlly all 3 kinds of people. how many weeks before i should start doing curls again?

[solshaKKer]

What is the best alternative exercises for building arm/bicep strength?

[russoft]

Geez, guess I should just give up on all exercises entirely. Chronic shoulder pain regardless of what I do, or don't do.

[matteo]

Can I do triceps exercise with shoulder pain?