Tennis elbow for photographers?

[haring]

I have noticed recently that my elbow hurts after long full day weddings. I am a wedding photojournalist so I barely use tripod, etc. I move around a lot. My right elbow hurts especially when I photograph two wedding after each other. I have my camera, the flash and the heavy 24-70mm in my hand most of the time. The setup is heavy is heavy.

Did you experience something like this?

[Photologyst]

I got tennis elbow, a repetitive stress injury, from a manual gear shift. It took years for it to go away.

Sometimes it still hurts while photographing.

Wear a tennis elbow brace.

Be careful what you purchase, some can irritate when you bend your arm. Ask your physician for a referral to a physical therapist who can recommend the proper brace for you.

Also do some muscle strengthening exercises. Tie a long string to a can with a dowel (European rolling pin, etc.) at the other end. Roll up the can, via the string on the dowel. Turn the dowel both ways.

Here are others:

Tennis Elbow Exercises

Google for more info.

[haring]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

I got tennis elbow, a repetitive stress injury, from a manual gear shift. It took years for it to go away.

Sometimes it still hurts while photographing.

Wear a tennis elbow brace.

Be careful what you purchase, some can irritate when you bend your arm. Ask your physician for a referral to a physical therapist who can recommend the proper brace for you.

Also do some muscle strengthening exercises. Tie a long string to a can with a dowel (European rolling pin, etc.) at the other end. Roll up the can, via the string on the dowel. Turn the dowel both ways.

Here are others:

Tennis Elbow Exercises

Google for more info.

WOW! thanks a lot!

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by haring

WOW! thanks a lot!

You are welcome. Be sure to get a handle on this immediately or it will plague you for years. Exercise is the best, long term solution. I know that from hard-won, painful experience.

You might also look at what sorts of exercises pro tennis players use to strengthen their vulnerable elbows.

[Niresangwa]

Never have elbow problems but do lose the sensation in my right hand ring finger from gripping the camera...

if it is indeed tendonitis, short term releif will be ice and ibuprofen, and as was suggested, in the long term strengthening the arm muscles will generally be required. Functional training would involve replicating the motion causing the tendonitis (when there's no inflammation) with a weight approx 50% of the weight of the item, and general conditioning for the upper body in general. That's all a physical therapist would do for you...

now if anyone has a fix for my numb finger tip it would be appreciated

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

now if anyone has a fix for my numb finger tip it would be appreciated

Get a rock climbing exerciser for your hands: Amazon.com: hand exerciser Sports & Outdoor Equipment

Hand and Finger Exercisers


These work great! I use them while sitting and watching TV. Dumbbell exercises are also good.

[ilookalot]

i suffer from bursitis in both shoulders which caused me lots of pain when shooting with my camera , i have found doing sets of exercises / stretching / swimming has helped greatly after the initial swelling went down (i still cannot throw a ball for the dogs and probably never will according to the DR. )
Could you try a mono pod to take some of the weight from your elbow ? I know its not an ideal set up but i found this helped me a fair bit when doing surfing photos with zooms attached .Heres to a quick recovery for you ,all the best Kym