Pain in elbows whilst squating, would a Cambered bar help?

[jamspastic]

Last year i started to get pain in both my elbows whilst i was squating. Back then, i was squating 3 times a week and had built up to my max of 182.5kgs for 5 reps. I decided to take a break from low reps, so i used high reps and changed my routine so i only squated once a week. All was well untill a couple of weeks ago when i got back into the low reps and the weight started getting heavier. The pain has started to come back, but not as bad...yet! I'm pretty sure my form is not a problem, so i'm wondering if a cambered bar would help the problem (like the ironmind buffalo bar). I don't want to have to stop doing low reps as i'm really enjoying them, and looking foward to betting my old p.b, so any help would be great thanks!!

[dbcb314]

It does take stress off the shoulders and elbows.

But, when using a straight bar, you may be forced to widen your hand space. It puts less stress on your elbows and shoulders. This is why you see so many people having their hands out near the collars.

[redfishoil]

I used to get elbow pain from heavy squats. Mine actually came from my thumb location. I was using fingers over/ thumbs under grip. After switching to fingers AND thumbs over the bar grip the elbow pain stopped flaring up.

[SoupDragon]

I was intent on getting my hands as close to my head as possible to keep my shoulders back - and ended up getting golfers elbow, I think because my wrists were bent - they should be kept straight.

How people do front squats is beyond me.

[jamspastic]

Thanks for the reply's guys. dbcb314, I find that if i widen my grip i loose a lot of tension in my back (traps), and that makes the bar roll around and very hard to keep stable.
Redfishoil, i allso use the thumb over the bar style, with straight wrist so i don't think my grip on the bar is the problem.
Maybye a cambered bar would be the best solution.

[Joe]

are you sure you're pulling your shoulder blades together when you un rack it? DB is right you should probably widen your grip. By getting your back tight stabilization shouldn't be a problem.

[jamspastic]

You could be right skar, it would explaine why i sometimes i find it hard to keep the bar stable. I shall have a practice with a wider grip and try to pull my shoulders back as much as possible and see if it helps.

[Joe]

keep your elbows down too. that will ensure your lats are used as stabilizers. A LOT of people have their elbows pointed behind them which takes out the lats.

[jamspastic]

Really? I was always under the impression that it was better to keep your elbows up higher and behind you to insure the weight isn't resting on them. Maybye my form is not as good as I first though!!!