Dips And Chest Pain

[LoneSilver]

I started doing dips after bench and since then I have been experiencing pain right in the center of the breast bone I'll do around 4 sets of 5 bodyweight only 230lbs.

I know dips can be used for triceps as well but could I be going to deep or is this common until one gets use to them.

Any ideas?

LoneSilver

 

[shaunuk]

Oh yeah, do you mean this pain-ish feeling in your sternum area after a set? Yeah I get this feeling most of the time as well, it's strange, but I wouldn't describe it completely as pain, not as severe in my opinion.

Drum&Bass said he gets this as well. Is it causing you discomfort or just something ya noticed?

 

[LoneSilver]

Just something I noticed..Gets a little uncomfortable and not a pain that says go to the doc and not a pain of exercise soreness if that makes sense just feels like it's in the bones of the chest.

Wasn't sure if me doing Cleans have anything to do with this as well.

LoneSilver

 

[speed dawg]

I get the same thing, it's just soreness. Don't do dips again until it subsides. Progress as your body lets you.

Listen to what your body tells you. If it's actual PAIN, you may have another problem. Dips are a tough exercise that takes getting used to. They don't call it the upper body squat for nothing.

 

[LoneSilver]

Thanks Speed Dawg appreciate the info..

LoneSilver

 

[eldafar]

Just something I noticed..Gets a little uncomfortable and not a pain that says go to the doc and not a pain of exercise soreness if that makes sense just feels like it's in the bones of the chest.

I hear ya. I used to have the exact same problem a few years ago, back when I could only do a few dips. I don't know if it's the body not being used to that type of contraction or what. Despite the pain I kept working on the dips in belief that the pain will subside, and it did. The only time dips hurt now is when my triceps are burning on the last reps of weighted dips.

Also a note to something you said earlier about maybe dipping to deep. I don't think that's a problem, your body mechanics should prevent you from dipping *too* low. Dipping too low should cause shoulder pain, not chest pain. Generally when your shoulders are a few inches below your elbows, as in you have a a moderate downward slope from elbows to shoulders is deep enough, and unless you want to, not recommended, it's not necessary for good technique to go any lower.

Now, it could be that it's not just temporary pain. Since you're 230, I image you are pretty big and have a wide arm span. Try dipping on wider bars?
Your technique could also be a little off. You're supposed to dip forward and down on the dips, not just down, so that your forearms are pretty much perpendicular to the bars. Now most of the time your body just goes down in the right path without you consciously trying to do so, but it might be that you're trying to go just straight down.

Anyways, you can try the things I mentioned and see if it helps any.

I hope you resolve the problem soon because dips are the ****, I quit bench press and now just do weighted dips.

Good Luck :cheer:

 

[LoneSilver]

Thanks eldafar for the added insight..

I have been doing some research on the net and apparently this is a common complaint with alot of dippers.

I like dips and will try what you suggested I'll experiment and see how it goes. I too believe dips are a major player in building an impressive chest and triceps aside from benches depending on ones body mechanics.

LoneSilver

I hear ya. I used to have the exact same problem a few years ago, back when I could only do a few dips. I don't know if it's the body not being used to that type of contraction or what. Despite the pain I kept working on the dips in belief that the pain will subside, and it did. The only time dips hurt now is when my triceps are burning on the last reps of weighted dips.

Also a note to something you said earlier about maybe dipping to deep. I don't think that's a problem, your body mechanics should prevent you from dipping *too* low. Dipping too low should cause shoulder pain, not chest pain. Generally when your shoulders are a few inches below your elbows, as in you have a a moderate downward slope from elbows to shoulders is deep enough, and unless you want to, not recommended, it's not necessary for good technique to go any lower.

Now, it could be that it's not just temporary pain. Since you're 230, I image you are pretty big and have a wide arm span. Try dipping on wider bars?
Your technique could also be a little off. You're supposed to dip forward and down on the dips, not just down, so that your forearms are pretty much perpendicular to the bars. Now most of the time your body just goes down in the right path without you consciously trying to do so, but it might be that you're trying to go just straight down.

Anyways, you can try the things I mentioned and see if it helps any.

I hope you resolve the problem soon because dips are the ****, I quit bench press and now just do weighted dips.

Good Luck :cheer: