Pain on arm extension
 

I'm new to weightlifting. Two days ago I worked on my arms on the machines at the gym. Yesterday and today my left arm won't completely extend without being in a bit of pain.

Is this normal when starting out? Should I possibly have taken it a little easier on myself?

My right arm is sore, but I can extend it, and I am right handed so I really do more with my right arm than my left normally.

A friend of mine says that this is normal, and it lets you know that you're muscles are building. I could understand that being true on my right arm, but my left is a lot weaker and pretty sore when I try to move it around.

sounds fairly normal, as long as it's muscle pain not joint pain it's probably ok

a little pain the next day is ok in my opinion ... some people say you shouldn't have any pain though

warm up & warm down

warm up & warm down

warm up & warm down

PS: especially warm down :)

The pain is right on the inside of my elbow, but I feel it up through my biceps, so I'm guessing it's a muscle pain.

I'll definately make sure I stretch more before and after next time. I figured hopping on the crosstrainer before and after the workout would be enough, but I guess not.

I had this happen. The only advice people would give me was "you'd know if it was something torn".

I didn't know, having never torn something. But, I waited, and in a few days it went away.

Part of it might be that your muscles aren't used to being strained for any length of time. Even with no behaviour changes, it should happen much less next time, and then less and less... (or so said those who I asked, and my personal experience)

don't need to go overboard on the warmin up and down but it's a good habit to get into early on :)

yakk is probably right - if you did tear something it would probably be a tendon, and i reckon you'd know about that all the time, not just when you straightened your arm... I've never done serious damage like that either

it's delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and is normal when starting lifting after being inactive for a while. it's completely normal, and should go away usually within 48 hours.

That's what I wanted to hear!!! :)

Thanks for all the info. This is why I love TFP...

I just did a search on DOMS here and saw Yakk's post. It almost looks like I did a copy & paste. That's exactly how I'm feeling.