If you do a lot of kettlebell training, pull ups, deadlifting, rope climbing, rock climbing or anything else where you’re gripping a lot, you will most likely have tight forearms.

Grip can be a limiting factor in performance, for example for most people grip endurance is the limiting factor in kettlebell snatches and for some people grip strength is the limiting factor in deadlifting.  Tight forearms will compound any grip limitations and can play a big part in preventing grip strength or endurance from improving.

The forearms have a lot of small muscles that get tight very easily and this can in turn impair blood flow to the hands and even nerve function.  Forearms are also very easily overtrained and it’s not a big leap from chronic tightness in the forearms to medial or lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow).

So, for any sort of grip training you’ll find great benefit in regularly working on the trigger points of the forearms and general massaging the area to promote good blood flow.  Not only will regular work on the forearms increase your performance in training, it’ll also help prevent long term setbacks like tendonitis.

Self massage is obviously the easiest solution to tight forearms, however massaging one forearm with the opposite hand defeats the purpose because it involves more grip work.

I have found that the best tool for managing forearm tightness (between high volume kettlebell snatch training and a lot of typing my forearms are very prone to getting extremely ropey) is The Stick.  Specifically, I’ve found the Original Stick (the one with the blue handles) is long enough and flexible enough to allow me to hit the forearm from all angles.

The Stick is particularly useful for forearms because you can massage along the length of the entire forearm to get blood flowing and also hone in on trigger points, particularly those close to the elbow, and you can easily regulate the pressure you apply.

Here are a couple of videos on using The Stick on your forearms (including one I made to show you the routine I've found really useful):

For more information on The Stick click here.

Tags: The Stick forearm massage The Stick forearm the stick forearm self massage forearm massage Emily Friedel