Why are my triceps sore?

After a day of hard climbing my triceps are often sore. Biceps feel fine. My partners and myself  all think it doesn’t make sense.

I used to have pretty bad tendinosis that was aggravated by climbing and reproduced by pushing down on something with an extended straight arm (ie a tricep contraction). I’m aware of this but it hasn’t been an issue for a while.

Should I be strength training my triceps? (Ie more pushups) Or perhaps something with my body mechanics? Both my shoulders are busted from MTB injuries.

Just curious to hear anyone else’s experience with this.

Thanks!

Mine get occasionally sore too. Not sure from what, maybe deep lock offs? I could see stemming being hard on the push muscles, as well as gastons.

Strength training is great, if you enjoy it. I prefer lifting weights over body weight exercises, but that’s just my preference. 

Joshy, theres a strong chance its from long multipitch days where you’re pulling up the rope a lot/belaying. I always get sore or cramp in the tricep area if im dehydrated as well. Drink a ton of water and eat more protein, preferably meat, especially if your climbing conistently (living in yosemite). If you have time supplement dips into your exercise routine, climbing has a tendancy to create a massive upper body muscle imbalance if not supplemented with moderate strength training on muscle groups not used directly in climbing (triceps, parts of your shoulders, traps, delts, etc). 

Stin Man wrote:

Joshy, theres a strong chance its from long multipitch days where you’re pulling up the rope a lot/belaying. I always get sore or cramp in the tricep area if im dehydrated as well. Drink a ton of water and eat more protein, preferably meat, especially if your climbing conistently (living in yosemite). If you have time supplement dips into your exercise routine, climbing has a tendancy to create a massive upper body muscle imbalance if not supplemented with moderate strength training on muscle groups not used directly in climbing (triceps, parts of your shoulders, traps, delts, etc). 

Hahaha. You literally do not need to eat meat to consume a high protein diet. There’s plenty of us who do not consume meat and are totally fine. 

jessie briggs wrote:

Hahaha. You literally do not need to eat meat to consume a high protein diet. There’s plenty of us who do not consume meat and are totally fine. 

“Theres plenty of us who do not consume meat and are totally frail” lol im kidding. 

You’re absolutely right. Eat your protein however you guys want, your life.

Personal experience wise, diets high in EPA/omega-3 (fish like salmon and tuna, chia seeds if your not into fish i guess) help significantly with DOMS and recovery in general. 

The long head of the triceps originates on the scapula just below the shoulder joint, so it contributes to shoulder extension (bringing the arm down from a position elevated in front of you). Hence the classic triceps stretch flexes the shoulder all the way up while also flexing the elbow. Mine gets somewhat sore after climbing, though usually not as much as the lats and a few others.

I used to get sore triceps after climbing all the time and I had no idea why since I never did any pushing, mantels, etc.  I still don't know why but it eventually stopped happening as my grade increased.  I wouldn't worry about it.