Biceps and forearms cramping

[Wwallace52590]

You guys got any tips or specific exercises I can do to help build my endurance in my arms?
I’m only able to climb 1 day a week right now and it’s really frustrating when I’m trying to get some work done when my biceps and forearms start cramping up on me.

2 days a week I’m sitting at the house watching the kids and I’m sure there’s something I could be doing to help this. I was thinking of getting one of those little things you squeeze? Or resistance bands? Or maybe some small dumbbells? I imagine this is more of an endurance thing vs a strength thing. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Ideally I would just climb more but unfortunately that’s not in the cards right now.

 

[SeanKroll]

Anything and everything.


You can buy a grip exerciser set inexpensively.

A rubber band on the fingers and thumb is an extensor exercise.

Pull ups and hanging.

Stretching.


Hydration and electrolytes.

 

[Mick!]

Eat potato chips when you feel it coming on.

 

[flushcut]

Salt and vinegar chips?

 

[Mick!]

Salt and vinegar chips?

Saltier the better.

 

[friedrich]

magnesium helps me with cramps and also helps beeing less tired.

 

[Mick!]

Crisps are tastier.

 

[Mick!]

magnesium helps me with cramps and also helps beeing less tired.

Does your ‘magnesium’ come from Columbia?

 

[lumberjack]

I take magnesium glycinate, not specifically for cramping, but it's a probable aid there as well.

Most of the cramping problems I had climbing were in the hot months.

Is it possible with you being green that you're overexerting compared to what's required? Typically when I start something new and risky I know I carry a lot of stress in my muscles that isn't required and fatigues me all the same.

 

[Kaveman]

What everyone else said, plus dynamic stretches and yoga. I'll keep whipping the draft horse of flexibility and core strength.

Also, a well muscled spinal column is far less prone to injury.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Early in my career, my biceps would give me grief pulling things up a tree many times a day, like zip lining or saws getting refilled on large removals. You build up to it. But also need to outsmart the physical stress. Like setting a pully, ring or biner ABOVE you so you are pulling down on the rope to bring something up. Using a 3:1 for the ground man to assist. Tag line down the zip line as a haul line. Dont over stress your biceps. Good way to get a torn one.

 

[davidwyby]

I don’t climb but I’d echo these guys to look at technique.

 

[SeanKroll]

Grip 101% percent of what is necessary, not 125% of what's necessary.

 

[Raj]

Grippy gloves so you have to squeeze a little less.

 

[Wwallace52590]

I take magnesium glycinate, not specifically for cramping, but it's a probable aid there as well.

Most of the cramping problems I had climbing were in the hot months.

Is it possible with you being green that you're overexerting compared to what's required? Typically when I start something new and risky I know I carry a lot of stress in my muscles that isn't required and fatigues me all the same.

Very possible…

 

[Wwallace52590]

Early in my career, my biceps would give me grief pulling things up a tree many times a day, like zip lining or saws getting refilled on large removals. You build up to it. But also need to outsmart the physical stress. Like setting a pully, ring or biner ABOVE you so you are pulling down on the rope to bring something up. Using a 3:1 for the ground man to assist. Tag line down the zip line as a haul line. Dont over stress your biceps. Good way to get a torn one.

Yea, I literally just today pulled the straps out this cheapo foot acsender to use for pulling stuff up and for 3:1 when in SRT

 

[Kaveman]

I'm not as kind to Rob, I set a redirect and let him haul the saw up if I'm fatigued. Mostly I make do.

But on big shit, you need big shit. My 500i with 32in bar and WCS dogs is quite a bit to swing aloft, when I can get away with 20in of bar. But the authority in the cut is hard to match... This also ties into your question about sharpening, the more teeth, the more wiggle room.

Just don't cut yourself out of the tree like I did. @Burnham can reference that story. For context, I was shaming the shameless at the time.

Where are you newbie? Perhaps we can arrange something of a master class, an indoctrination course for the truly willing, which you seem to be?

 

[Wwallace52590]

I'm not as kind to Rob, I set a redirect and let him haul the saw up if I'm fatigued. Mostly I make do.

But on big shit, you need big shit. My 500i with 32in bar and WCS dogs is quite a bit to swing aloft, when I can get away with 20in of bar. But the authority in the cut is hard to match... This also ties into your question about sharpening, the more teeth, the more wiggle room.

Just don't cut yourself out of the tree like I did. @Burnham can reference that story. For context, I was shaming the shameless at the time.

Where are you newbie? Perhaps we can arrange something of a master class, an indoctrination course for the truly willing, which you seem to be?

I live in NC about halfway between Charlotte and Winston-Salem