Constant Pain in the bridge arm tricep muscle

[Sidd]

I have been playing snooker since 10 years now, more or less, including a two year break when my cue was stolen. Anyway when I used to play before the two year break I used to have a slight pain in my bridge arm tricep muscle. I was there since the begining but I developed it lately and when I went on the break the pain was gone and now that I am back playing again since Ocober 2011 I guess; the pain is back again. This means that this pain is obviously snooker related. No question about it. I also experience pain in legs and feet but that is strain due to playing 5 hours a day for at elast 5 days a week. I am getting old (34 years old now) and am over weight so that I can understand and it isnt a bother so no worries.

However, the bridge arm tricep pain that I experience in the area from the shoulder joint to the elbow (specifically the tricep muscle, as I have observed) used to be to be there whenever I used to play lately. Now I am begining to get a little worried due to that becasue now my condition is to a point where I have to apply some kind of ointment to treat it and also since last three days or more I can feel the pain bothering me at night as well and I cant easily go to sleep. The intensity is not that high and its easily bearable- its more of a botheration and it bugs me (not during playing mostly but afterwards) and since its not going away I fear it might increase.

I do try to keep my bridge arm slightly bent and not very very straight and still I have this pain. I have no clue what is causing it cuz when I ask other players who play even more than I do they have never had any such-like complaint ever... All I can think of is that most probably I am putting more body weight to my right side (I am left handed) or maybe I am not balanced enough in my stance; but I dont really think that might be the reason. But then I am clueless and would appreciate ideas as to what could it be and how to get rid of it before it reaches a point that I cant play due to it...!!!

[DeanH]

I would say two things:
1. Your bridge hand muscles are too tense, it is possible to have a steady good bridge without the hand being a rock!
2. You have probably been playing a bit too much in a short period of time, snooker is a sport and you do have to train your body to handle long periods of the same exercise.
So I would say you have a tounch of repetative strain, after a long time playing I can sometimes find that my thumb feels painful, so I don't play for a few days after to let it relax.

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd:

Repetitive Strain Injury and DeanH has it exactly correct in his #1 reason. Try relaxing your bridge a bit however you must still keep it still of course, especially the thumb and forefinger. Try pushing the forefinger into the cloth or maybe the first 2 fingers into the cloth and do not force the whole hand to be rigid.

The other solution would be of course to change the bridge to a loop bridge once you notice the start of the pain

Terry

[Sidd]

Terry the funny thing is that I never notice the start of the pain while I am still playing. I only realise it after an hour or so after going back home. Then I have it all day long on and off and at a particular angle only. Then when I go to play I notice I dont feel it anymore during playing.

Another thing important to mention is that I have also noticed that (it may give help in understanding the cause) when I start to play I cant and I really mean I CANT play the first three shots at least with my full stance so I just get half down on the shot with my head still above a little over the cue and my back only half bent and play initial three shots like that and after that I feel normal and comfortable as if my muscles have opened or my body has settled in etc Is that indicative of something....??? Please help!

[Sidd]

An update: I saw a doctor finally and he asked me to make some movements and did some check up. This is what he came up with: my problem is perhaps not RSI because any muscle/tissue related problem or pain in constant and is not dependant upon motion or angular movements. Since my pain only originated in particular angles he said it is in the shoulder joints and is not in the tricep muscle. The tricep seems to ache due to the shoulder joint pain and it seems as if it is in the tricep but actually it is being originated from the shoulder joint.

He said that the material in between my shoulder joints is getting less so the bones are contacting each other while in particular angle and hence the pain. He related it to my obesity and suggested warm therapy massage and exercise to cut down on weight...!

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd:

Take your doctor's advice and cut down on the food intake and to get the required exercise play more snooker

Terry

[Sidd]

I think you are absolutely right coach. This weight is no good and due to that (and smoking too) I am loosing on stamina quickly with age (am 34 now). I need to cut down on weight immediately before its too late.. these signs like the shoulder joint thing are not good. I will try to go on a diet and loose weight. I am sure it will also help my snooker technique since I believe it is .. the slimmer the better that works fine!

[Mustafa mayar]

I have been playing snooker since 10 years now, more or less, including a two year break when my cue was stolen. Anyway when I used to play before the two year break I used to have a slight pain in my bridge arm tricep muscle. I was there since the begining but I developed it lately and when I went on the break the pain was gone and now that I am back playing again since Ocober 2011 I guess; the pain is back again. This means that this pain is obviously snooker related. No question about it. I also experience pain in legs and feet but that is strain due to playing 5 hours a day for at elast 5 days a week. I am getting old (34 years old now) and am over weight so that I can understand and it isnt a bother so no worries.

However, the bridge arm tricep pain that I experience in the area from the shoulder joint to the elbow (specifically the tricep muscle, as I have observed) used to be to be there whenever I used to play lately. Now I am begining to get a little worried due to that becasue now my condition is to a point where I have to apply some kind of ointment to treat it and also since last three days or more I can feel the pain bothering me at night as well and I cant easily go to sleep. The intensity is not that high and its easily bearable- its more of a botheration and it bugs me (not during playing mostly but afterwards) and since its not going away I fear it might increase.

I do try to keep my bridge arm slightly bent and not very very straight and still I have this pain. I have no clue what is causing it cuz when I ask other players who play even more than I do they have never had any such-like complaint ever... All I can think of is that most probably I am putting more body weight to my right side (I am left handed) or maybe I am not balanced enough in my stance; but I dont really think that might be the reason. But then I am clueless and would appreciate ideas as to what could it be and how to get rid of it before it reaches a point that I cant play due to it...!!!

Hello Sid,

I have the exact same problem. While i was reading it looked like someone wrote down my story. My problem still exists and I had to leave playing snooker. I would like to ask you for update. Were you able to find a solution ? If yes what you did ? Please help. Thank