It's good to be rest/pausing again!

[Trulyhuge]

After a 5 week cruise I am ready to hit it hard rest/pause style! The reason for such a long cruise was injuries. Pec was strained, elbows feel like a 90 year-old's w/ arthritis, knees throbbing, etc. Needless to say it was a much needed break. Went and received 2 very deep tissue massages, iced the hell out of my injuries and I am feeling 100%. My only drawback is my chest. I think I came close to tearing it and I posted this when it happened. I was told straight setting it would be ok for a while. My question is this. Would it be ok to use the hammer incline and flat/vertical bench press for chest? The smythe machine I would like to wait on. What should the reps look like?I just don't want to play catchup w/ my chest. It is one of my best bodyparts though. I'm ready to literally [email protected] the logbook up the ass bigtime this go around! If In-human or anyone could help me out that would be great!

TH

[In-Human]

TH, I want you to use some common sense here, you try out each machine and you see what feels good on your Pecs and Elbows, not only the Hammer machines but try everything for chest to see what is a good fit.

Of course your weights will be off compared to your last blast 5 weeks ago so you will start off sort of light, did you do straight sets throughout your cruise, if you did how did your Elbows and Pecs feel?...

[MikeyG]

Just a suggestion.. If you cannot go heavy on chest exercises, What I may do is go for Dips. They do in sense hit the chest pretty good as well for the triceps. Advantage is that you can vary your angle of descent & upward thrust of controlled motion, but not sure if it would affect your previous Hx of pec tear.

[Trulyhuge]

In-Human...
sorry, I guess I didn't explain this enough. i have tried all chest machines and it seems the Hammer presses are the easiest on my pecs and elbows. It seems the machines or movements that don't lock you in a particular motion help out. We have the vertical Flex press at my gym as well and those feel good also. Of all i was trying to say the two Hammer pieces I stated above I felt work the best for me.
As far as keeping warm i dress for every workout like it's 20 degrees outside....long sweat pants, t-shirt, and either a pullover or a sweatshirt. i stretch my chest alone for 10 good minutes and warmup thouroughly. I'll just have to see how it goes. Thanks for the suggestions...more is encouraged!

TH

[In-Human]

TH, I love the Hammers as well, you can get extra heavy on them with very little problems to joint irratations and old injuries.

Like I said use your head and start out slow and blast away, keep that form perfect and maybe get a spotter to help out on those last negatives or even statics if you are doing those...

[In-Human]

TH, Another thing, use neoprene sleeves on your Elbows, keep your wrists straight when doing chest movements and if you have to use smaller knee wraps over the neoprenes on your Elbows...

[Doggcrapp]

I wouldnt be doing a rest pause any less than 20-30rp if i was you (at least for 2 months) on any chest movement--I would also put a menthol rub on your elbows pre gym and i would wrap your elbows semi snugly with your knee wraps on any kind of tricep exercise (on the work sets)

[Trulyhuge]

That's why I love this board....great advice! In-Human, where do they sell those elbow supports? Around here they have nothing. Hell, I havent found a place w/ decent knee wraps!
DC, got ya man!

TH

[gr8ape]

makes me thin of something weird, the biggest in our gym, who is like 270 at 5 foot 9, tapes his wrists ever workout, yeah he uses clear, plastic tape......wtf

[jimpaul]

Hey TH, if I were you I would make sure that the first five or six reps were performed slowly and with perfect form. I believe that it would be the first few reps that have the most potential for damage in this case. I know that when it comes to the end that some may loosen up the form as well (okay, I am talking about myself) to get the last couple in. Be careful and good luck!

jim

[Doggcrapp]

Inzer kneewraps--best there is in my opinion

[In-Human]

That's why I love this board....great advice! In-Human, where do they sell those elbow supports? Around here they have nothing.

Not sure where you live but if you need neoprene sleeves most sporting goods stores have them at like $12.00 each Sport Chalet, Big 5, Sportmart try these places online and wraps as DC mentioned from Inzer or look on this board at the sponsor APT I have there wrist and knee wraps they are great products...

[Trulyhuge]

in-Human, How much for the knee wraps?

TH