Any inside info on the different ways to approach Dips?

I can easily tell a difference when doing wide grip, and narrow grip dips. I can do a pretty good job of tilting my weight from an upright position, to a more forward position,and feel the difference from chest to triceps, but what I have a hard time doing, and don't really understand, is the range of motion. I see a good number of folks doing what looks like partial ROM for Dips,..Using just the top portion of the movement. I have a heck of a time, not going all the way down.

The problem with that, is quite often, I will have issues with my elbows. Depending on the day, and what I have done prior, I will do body weight, or weighted Dips,...

What is the advantage, if any, in doing full reps, or doing partials, at the top, or bottom?

Thanks much guys,...>>>--->

Any inside info on the different ways to approach Dips?

I can easily tell a difference when doing wide grip, and narrow grip dips. I can do a pretty good job of tilting my weight from an upright position, to a more forward position,and feel the difference from chest to triceps, but what I have a hard time doing, and don't really understand, is the range of motion. I see a good number of folks doing what looks like partial ROM for Dips,..Using just the top portion of the movement. I have a heck of a time, not going all the way down.

The problem with that, is quite often, I will have issues with my elbows. Depending on the day, and what I have done prior, I will do body weight, or weighted Dips,...

What is the advantage, if any, in doing full reps, or doing partials, at the top, or bottom?

Thanks much guys,...>>>--->

I think there may be multiple reasons why people only do partials. I suppose it is possible some people are doing partials with maximal weight to try and boost strength gains, but I suspect the real reason is much more mundane -- They are able to do more reps (or more weight) doing only partials...which of course is an ego boost. ;)

Another reason that many find it painful to do the full ROM. Alot of people with shoulder issues (particarly rotator cuff problems) have difficulty going all the way down, and some people experience pain in the sternum area at the bottom portion of the lift. I know that some people have a tough time with dips for those reasons.

Another reason that many find it painful to do the full ROM. Alot of people with shoulder issues (particarly rotator cuff problems) have difficulty going all the way down, and some people experience pain in the sternum area at the bottom portion of the lift. I know that some people have a tough time with dips for those reasons.

I think the ROM on dips have caused me to have some sternum issues. I'm not entirely sure, but the pain is most apparent when I awake from a night of sleep. Dumb as a rock though, I mostly just ignore it until it fades away in the midday.

I think the ROM on dips have caused me to have some sternum issues. I'm not entirely sure, but the pain is most apparent when I awake from a night of sleep.

Yeah, I had sternum pain for awhile too. I believe I had costochondritis (http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/costochondritis.htm). It was painful to the touch and hurt whenever I did dips also, but it went away after awhile.

Dumb as a rock though, I mostly just ignore it until it fades away in the midday.

I do dumb stuff all the time when it comes to things like this. I remember one time, my shoulder was hurting so badly, that I coudn't even lift it. So, what did I do? Decided to do some weighted dips! The thing is, I knew it was only going to make things worse, yet I did it anyway. :bang:

I had this nasty little problem where the weights on my belt crashed against a horizontal bar at about 2/3 of the way down. I don't do dips anymore though, namely because it's really tough to get a good ROM without having to swing weight to avoid the bar. Really silly design.

Some people like to do them with their hands facing inwards. One attempt at that convinced me it was not a very pleasing exercise, namely due to the shooting pains in my forearms.

I use to get pains in the tops of my shoulders immediately after doing dips. After 3 weeks though I get no pain. I'm up to doing 3 sets of 12 and thanks to JoeSchmo my tricep growth has been awesome. I definitely notice them getting bigger. Sometimes I will do the third set weighted but can do 12 reps. Usually only about 5-6. My ROM goes to parallel. I get down for my tricep to be parallel with the floor then go back up. Full ROM = Full Development

I'm not sure why, but dips hurt my left shoulder unless I go into a shrug position. Also, I can just barely get a right angle with my upper arm and torso, though I see other people going farther then that.

i do sets of 5 weighted dips with 75 lbs, it hurts my sternum to breathe the next day

but sometimes men have to have a sore chest


so that's what happens ;)

jk

I've never gotten a sore sternum from dips. I've done 1RM dips and higher rep dips, and no combination of reps and sets have given me anything other than DOMS.
Dips are a good exercise, but if they're causing you pain beyond doms, switch it to something else. There are plenty of other good exercises.

I have some pain in my collarbone area at the top of the motion, especially when I go to push myself off the bars after my set. Any ideas? The pain goes away pretty immediately, but it is sharp enough that I sort of dread finishing a set. I've tried both wide and narrower grips, but it seems to have no effect.

I use to get pains in the tops of my shoulders immediately after doing dips. After 3 weeks though I get no pain. I'm up to doing 3 sets of 12 and thanks to JoeSchmo my tricep growth has been awesome. I definitely notice them getting bigger. Sometimes I will do the third set weighted but can do 12 reps. Usually only about 5-6. My ROM goes to parallel. I get down for my tricep to be parallel with the floor then go back up. Full ROM = Full Development

DieselB, that is great to hear that your triceps are getting bigger and stronger. Keep up the good work man. :tucool:

i do sets of 5 weighted dips with 75 lbs, it hurts my sternum to breathe the next day

but sometimes men have to have a sore chest


so that's what happens ;)

jk
lol damn Matt. Weighted reps with 75 lbs. Your tri's are probably huge. Thats where I'm trying to get to:bb:
DieselB, that is great to hear that your triceps are getting bigger and stronger. Keep up the good work man. :tucool:
Thanks man. I appreciate your good advice. I think thats whats contributing to bench strength growing:cool:

lol damn Matt. Weighted reps with 75 lbs. Your tri's are probably huge. Thats where I'm trying to get to:bb:

Thanks man. I appreciate your good advice. I think thats whats contributing to bench strength growing:cool:


you would think, but i have NO definition in my arms what-so-ever.

i just weigh nothing. (148-153 depending on water weight)