erb's palsy

[chill8]

I too have Erb's palsy from a birth injury. My advice is to work the side individually and use the same weight. My left side is much stronger, but when I work arms, delts, chest, and back I allow my right side to move freely while building the strength by doing single arm rows, dumbbell presses, etc. It's annoying because it feels like my left side isn't growing, but it maintains. Some muscle have become progressively stronger fairly quickly. My shoulder progress is almost nonexistent but thats because I have such limited overhead range of motion that I just accept it. I get uncomfortable in the gym but some days are better than others. I can allow myself to sit and sulk or I can go to the gym and lift heavy **** anyway. My mental limitations kick in way before any physical ones. Find yourself a gym partner that supports you and pushes you just let anyone else. Stretch regularly to keep flexibility and mobility and ****ing go for it dude! Learn to make it a strength; it will change your life.

[Atlbraves49]

Another with erbs chiming in...

Is anyone here able to do pull ups? I'm thinking about trying to get into the Navy reserves and the fitness test requires pull-ups, which I've never been able to do. Just curious if it'll even be possible, with heavy training.

[mzjassat786]

I'm 20 y/o male from South Africa. Also sustained this injury in my right arm at birth, been for two ops though which seemed to improve my functionality slightly. Also can notice difference in girth and length of my right arm. Bicep curls are extremely difficult to do. Can someone please advise me how to build my bicep muscle, it bothers me alot. My email is mzjassat@gmail.com. Would be nice to get in touch with people who have the same inury as I've never met anyone with it before.

[KirkMatt]

I have the same issue with my left arm , i know the pain and humiliation but i keep lifting, i have been doing forearms curls, i take a 10 or 15 pound weight and work my forearms, i also match the weight to keep things consistent, also as i do bench press i only extend the range of the length of my left arm. the issue we have is that the triceps are not going to get the full extension so it is hard to build them so the arm is going to be a little smaller, but my bicep have grown tremendously, but don't give up man, i am not, You be the best that you can be and do not worry about the haters, also keep stretching your arm, i put dumbbells (45-50 lbs)in my hands and hold them for a minute i do 5 sets of this. to put as much stretch on my arm as possible, i also lay on bench with a dumbbell and extend my arms overhead to work the shoulders. Lets keep in touch and i will give you as many tips as i can and maybe you can give me some.

[KirkMatt]

Another with erbs chiming in...

Is anyone here able to do pull ups? I'm thinking about trying to get into the Navy reserves and the fitness test requires pull-ups, which I've never been able to do. Just curious if it'll even be possible, with heavy training.

I was denied into the navy because of my arm, not sure if things have changed.

[KirkMatt]

There are so many of us with this issue we need to start our own exercise forum, i think there are things that each of us know how to do that could help one another.

what do you all think?

[Mizamo]

Hey. I have had this same thing since birth in my left arm. Rotation is limited along with the muscle growth ability due to nerves and movement restrictions. I am only 16 but have had some amazing specialists in Canada. Suffering with pain for 16 years is obviously annoying and I have tried everything. Physio therapy is a huge benefit, but you need to be referred to the correct doctor and specialit for them to know what to do for you. This will reduce pain by 10000000% as long as you give it your all and be honest to the doctors. This will also improve rotation and muscle growth. If this does not help they have a steroid injection that also may help after the therapy.
But your ar, will never be 100% as the nerves are limited, so the rotation and muscle growth will not be there.
I have only gotten this far, but the next step for me is talking about surgeries regarding pain and muscle, but again, 100% is not possible unless you are under the age of two as nerve grams would allow for your nerves to grow back.
It's frustrating and emotional, but you must learn to adapt, and adjust. Emotionally you need to understand that this is what you have and it's better off then most people these days, physically that is. You are blessed with what you have. Use it and try your best physically, workout with what your able to and mentally show everyone what you have. It's honestky the best thrill to be better at others in sports while your at a dis advantage. I play hand ball and hockey, hockey I am on a provincial level and western level. ( Canada's version of being best in the state ) Westerns is under national. It's the best agaisnt he best, in one of the greatest hockey countries around. Though I visibly am at a disadvantage, I continue to show we can do anything we desire . So I hope that helps!

[tattooartie]

I'm 46 been working out for a while have erbs palsy in my right arm as well and to be honest who gives a crap what people think ... I have very limited mobility in it , what I use is resistance bands it seems to help .. But after a good chest work out my arm gets very sore.. Any question feel free to ask me and I'll help out the best I can

[tattooartie]

No on the pull ups I have no strength to do them

[HolyHershey]

I do not think it is impossible to do pull-ups with erb's palsy, it will just take a long time. I am most of the way there, but the last range of motion in my bicep is difficult to achieve. I am hoping that doing bicep curls with an emphasis on the very last movement will help with this. As for how to properly train biceps with erb's palsy, this is something I have been struggling with since the first day I stepped into the gym. Make sure you are isolating your arm as much as you can. Sometimes I use the preacher curl station to do curls with my left arm, sometimes I do them while standing, and sometimes while I am laying down with my back on a bench. Switch things up. I personally do high rep low weight with my erb's arm, because I simply cannot handle large weights. However, by doing this I have actually managed to make my erb's arm about ~0.5-1 inch larger than my right arm, as I do low-rep high weight with my right arm, if at all.

Personally, my biggest struggle has always been training shoulders (as well as keeping proper posture). Only in the last few months have I gotten delts that are even remotely visible, and I have done this through bouldering. If you want to be able to do pull-ups, I highly recommend bouldering. Due to the angles involved in climbing, as well as the fact that your entire body is used, you are basically doing easier versions of pull-ups. I've never spoken to anyone else with erb's palsy before, but it's really comforting to know that we aren't alone.

[Domf3]

Hello everyone, I am a long time lurker and have been lifting, not consistently, since 2009. I was born with erb's palsy in my right arm. My mobility I'm my right arm is very limited. Such as I can't extended my right arm fully over my head, or extend it straight out I'm any direction. It is shorter and smaller than my left. I can't do alot of workouts suck as benching or shoulder presses. Even the workouts I can do, I look a little funny doing them since I can't do them totally correct. At times I hate working out at the gym with alot of people because I feel like everyone are always looking at my weird form. My left arm is about 17 inches and my right is about 15.5. No matter what I do I just keep getting bigger on my left side and barely increasing on my right. I have a hard time talking about it and try to hide it as much as possible from many people. Only closest friends and family know. I just wanted to ask you guys if there was anything I could do? Thanks guys

I'm don't have much knowledge about your condition but have you considered purchasing an E-Stim unit? They have be used to activate muscle fibers and there are even a few studies showing a positive effect on strength. **** what anybody else 'thinks' of you in the gym. I can tell you a lot of people admire me and ask for advice. You know who I look to for inspiration? The people like you who have to work extra hard at it and continue to put in the work. There will always be people who judge others, but why waste your time with them. You're also a person who inspires. Focus on that!

[Ceng07]

Hi, I’m new on this forum and came across this thread as I was searching for ways to strengthen my left arm that has erbs palsy. I find I’m suffering in my workouts cause I don’t have the strength to do much. I’d appreciate some advice as to how to strengthen my arm?

[ironwill2008]

Hi, I’m new on this forum and came across this thread as I was searching for ways to strengthen my left arm that has erbs palsy. I find I’m suffering in my workouts cause I don’t have the strength to do much. I’d appreciate some advice as to how to strengthen my arm?

Medically-related exercise issues need to be discussed with an Orthopedist or at the very least, a qualified Physical Therapist, not random posters on an internet site who can't possibly know your specific condition or limitations.



Good luck.