Loosening The Grip

I have been dealing with an aching left elbow for a couple of months arising from some poor lifting technique. In an attempt to avoid using excessive leverage in lifting weights, I found gripping the weights tightly to force the muscles to do the work and not just throw the weight around worked. In solving one issue, I created another. Ain't that the way it rolls?

I was hanging out with my cousin last weekend and he happened to mention that an aching elbow joint was likely related to an excessive and tense hand hand grip, So, this week I absolved to lift the barbells and dumbbells with a less forceful grip while still putting the weight on the muscles to lift versus using the leverage that I have mentioned.

After a week my elbow is really improving. I held the weights lightly yet still forced them to do work.  The results are less elbow pain thankfully.

A couple of takeaways. 

First, we can always learn from others. They just might know something we don't. It is becoming verboten in our culture to offer advice as if we all have the inner wisdom to figure things out on our own. Like we are gods or something. Particularly if one is prone to complain. Sounds like you are asking for help. 

A second principle is to balance grip with a sense of looseness. Much of life is a paradox.When opposites have to co-exist in tandem. Gripping things too tightly causes pain. Hold on firmly but no more firmly than needed. I think this is a good maxim for life. A clutching and clenching places a burden on our ability to be flexible and to bear the weight properly. So, expect an ache. Pain is evidence often that we are doing something wrong.  

* I had been writing in this blog several months ago about how this Chromebook has a really touchy keyboard, leading to the double typing of letters and two spaces rather than one in between words. It was maddening and made me think that I had made an unwise purchase as it cannot be adjusted on the device.  It had to come from my end in terms of adjustments. I had to figure out the balance of striking the keys with the right amount of force but not too much. I am getting there.