Dips

[DEALER]

Hello everyone,

I am having a problem when performing dips, and hoping you might shed some light on what is going on.

When doing my dips, everything seem fine as I am up on the bars and when performing the movement for reps (usually 10-15, unweighted). When I am finished, I step on the platform/floor and release my grip. When I release the load of my body weight, my neck goes into spasm briefly. It's a very sharp pain that feels like the "bottom" of my neck, where it meets the clavicle, towards the shoulder. It is very painful, and frustrating, as on more than one occasion I have cursed out loud in the gym.

I have tried adjusting my form, and I pay close attention to my technique. I have been trying to work through this for the past month or two - I don't want to avoid dips but I definitely don't want to create an injury that will sideline me for months.

I have been training seriously for around 2 years. I had no problems performing dips in the past. I went six months without doing any. The problem only became noticeable when I began dipping again over the past month or so.

I am not sure what's going on, when I am bracing myself and performing the movement I am fine, when I release the pressure is when I feel like I am getting "shanked" in the neck.

[Steel_UK]

It isn't a simple case of cramping up by chance is it?

[DEALER]

Cramping? Like I said, after every set, it feels like someone is plunging a knife into my neck. Maybe it is a serious neck cramp but why is this happening now? And how the hell do I get it to stop? Usually when other parts of my body cramp up, it takes a while to relax, where this neck thing happens really quickly, though I am afraid that one of these days it is going to cinch up and not release for a while. That would be horrible.

I never get into dips until I am really warm, usually following close grip bench or an entire back session. I usually train back & tris together, often super sets.

I drink loads of water all day and while I am in the gym.

Maybe it is nothing but cramps, but if so, what should I do? help please. LOL.

[tidalwave]

Honestly, it sounds like a nerve problem that needs to be examined by a physician. If your body is repeatedly yelling a message at your brain, you should find out what it is before a long-term problem develops and really derails your fitness progress.

[joey9]

"Doc, when I do this it hurts."
Doc: "Then don't do that anymore!"

I used to have a pain when doing dips. I read that this is not uncommon at all, especially when folks go down all the way, and that some guys simply can't do this exercise. So I stopped. I started doing them again recently, at first only going down halfway, and felt no pain. Now I go down at least 90% of the way and still have no pain.

(If you only go down halfway, you're giving a great workout to the triceps but not stressing the shoulder. Partial movements used to be very popular among weightlifters, btw.)

Muscle spasms are no joke, incidentally, and often get misdiagnosed. Doctors typically receive almost zero training for dealing with them. You might consider finding a qualified sports massage therapist who specializes in neck problems. "Thoracic outlet syndrome" is a fancy term they use for this sometimes.

It's not necessarily caused by not drinking enough water; it could be a lot more complex than that. But keeping doing the dips could be preventing it from healing.

[orientalkid]

try holding dumbbells between the legs instead. Have someone load the dumbbell for u, it may help. But i would say if it hurts, u really should stop doing that movement.

There are other excerises that can work that lower chest, the decline bench press for example is one of them.

[pliny_2001]

It just sounds like a nerve spasm. I could speculate all day on _why_ it's there, but my non-medical opinion is to just move around your grip a bit (assuming that you dip station has wide and narrow settings). If not, try adjusting body position (moving from a more chest-dominant exercise to a tricep -dominant one) or moving around the rep range (if you're doing 15 body weight reps, it really is time to load the movement) and seeing if it goes away.

IME nerves go crazy against a particular motion, and problems generally go away when you modify the motion.

[DEALER]

Thanks Joey9... I'll lay off them for a while... You're right about most doctors not knowing about this stuff, my doctor gives me the most ridiculous advice when I talk to him about my training, things like "don't do squats" and "never use heavy weight".

I understand that he is concerned for my safety, he just can't see why anyone would want to be big. And you are right, he'll just tell me to stop doing dips.

[IMFREAKZILLA]

have an experienced lifter go over your 'dip routine' he/she could see something ......that you are not doing properly or as others have suggested it could be medical,lifting should not hurt
unless you have something out of whack,joint pain etc .I wish you the best.

[wildstang]

its more then likely a misalignment problem in your cervical region with the vertabrae causing a pinched nerve id guess. i sometimes get that way and need a chiropractor 2 realign if i cant manipulate it back on my own. is there an old injury flair up in that region you didnt possibly mention?

[DEALER]

Thanks wildstang... But no, no injury in that region. I have lower back issues that flare up from time to time, but no known upper body problems.

[wildstang]

even a lumbar region prob can affect cervical thru the domino misalignment effect by vertabrae moving to compensate for a problem. worth checking into a chiro or therapist. they can tell right off by feeling for alignment issues by touch since they are trained 4 this purpose. even sleeping with 2 many pillows will screw me up badly since i have previous neck issues.

[Insex]

You should see your doctor, just to be on the safe side.

Other than that, unless you're feeling this same pain in other body parts, I'd doubt it's just a cramp.

If you're going to go back to the gym to give Dips another try, look straight ahead while performing Dips and try to relax your neck--don't tense up so much. Also, don't go as low as before.

If that doesn't help, but you still want to do Dips, then try doing Bench Dips. Find a bench and another item (perhaps another bench) that is of equal height as the bench. Sit on one side of the bench with your hands about shoulder-length apart; place your feet on the other item so that your body is completely off the ground. Descend by bending at the elbows, then push yourself back up to the strarting position; look straight ahead throughout the entire movement.

In addition to that, perhaps try some gentle neck stretches before and after your workouts to see if that alleviates the pain.

[helpmespock]

I'm a doc, Dealer, and though I agree with your opinion about most doctors, I'm not one of em. I usually tell my patients they need to squat if that topic comes up.

Anyhow it definately sounds like you have some type of cervical nerve compression. It may be cervical stenosis or a disc herniation. You need an MRI of the cervical spine. I would pursue this before any chiropractic eval IMO. If your insurance allows go straight to a neurosurgeon(not an ortho, you don't want an ortho messing with your neck). If you require a referral your gonna have to convince a primary care doc to refer you.

Good luck bro.

[bouncer]

Dealer, I've just recently started seeing a chiropractor, who has done great things for me. I will add that there's nothing worse than a bad one, but there's not much more helpful than a good one. I would suggest that Helpmespock has given some great advice. Armed with your MRI, you could seek treatment besides traditional PT.

Good Luck!

[msid17]

when performing dips, make sure that you don't have more distance than 3 fits other wise your wings will start aching after couple of dips and keep your balance dont favor any 1 arm and keep them straight