"Tennis Elbow" for Sports Photographers Anyone?

[ZurichPhoto]

OK. I'm getting old. But after shooting football games lately -- and generally handling a 300mm Nikon 2.8 for most of it -- the next morning I have a pretty sharp pain in my elbow of my "shooting hand." Probably low-grade tendonitis. This is the first year I've noticed it and it goes away after a day. Anyone else have this experience and if so, is there a brace or elbow support you wear to games that might help?

 

[TGM1234]

Yes I do! I have been struggling with it for months.

I have done a few things that seem to help (via my physical therapist), but not cure it completely:

1) I use a monopod much more than I used to. With my 300 I use a mono pod only.

2) I use a Black Rapid strap and I switched shoulders so now I grab my camera with the opposite hand/arm that has tennis elbow.

3) I have spend time strengthening my forearms by holding my arm straight and lifting a 2-3 pound weight 5x30 a day by only lifting the weight with my wrist (no movement in elbow or shoulder, just wrist. The low weight is key, if it hurts when doing it it is too much, the weight should fatigue the forearm but not cause any pain.

Best,

Tom

 

[photoprof]

Yes its hsppened to me also. Even worse was the deQuervains tendinitis of my thumb from three events and about 6000 exposures using back button focus.

 

[sssesq]

OK. I'm getting old. But after shooting football games lately -- and generally handling a 300mm Nikon 2.8 for most of it -- the next morning I have a pretty sharp pain in my elbow of my "shooting hand." Probably low-grade tendonitis. This is the first year I've noticed it and it goes away after a day. Anyone else have this experience and if so, is there a brace or elbow support you wear to games that might help?

I think that this condition is less related to the weight of the rig ( for me it does not matter much what kit I am using, I HH the 300 2.8 on ff body and 24-70 and get the same, on occasion). I support the weight almost entirely with my left arm. I think that is due to having the right elbow TENSED for prolonged periods of time while waiting for the shot. The constant tension for a long time, e.g. football games, may cause a bit of tendinitis...??

 

[hotdog321]

OK. I'm getting old. But after shooting football games lately -- and generally handling a 300mm Nikon 2.8 for most of it -- the next morning I have a pretty sharp pain in my elbow of my "shooting hand." Probably low-grade tendonitis. This is the first year I've noticed it and it goes away after a day. Anyone else have this experience and if so, is there a brace or elbow support you wear to games that might help?

Are you using a monopod? They're a huge help when shooting with a 300 f/2.8 and I keep the 70-200 slung around my neck for close-in action. I let my monopod arm kinda relax and grip the shaft further down when I'm not using the 300.

But a monopod isn't always the complete answer. I use a 300 f/2.8 to shoot cross-court action at basketball games, too, and picking up and putting down that darn thing 150 times during a game is a real workout!

I've started getting tendinitis in my thumbs and find a wrist brace helps: http://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Fitted-Wrist-Brace-X-Large/dp/B00W64S0LO/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

--
photojournalist
http://craighartley.zenfolio.com/

 

[TGM1234]

OK. I'm getting old. But after shooting football games lately -- and generally handling a 300mm Nikon 2.8 for most of it -- the next morning I have a pretty sharp pain in my elbow of my "shooting hand." Probably low-grade tendonitis. This is the first year I've noticed it and it goes away after a day. Anyone else have this experience and if so, is there a brace or elbow support you wear to games that might help?

I think that this condition is less related to the weight of the rig ( for me it does not matter much what kit I am using, I HH the 300 2.8 on ff body and 24-70 and get the same, on occasion). I support the weight almost entirely with my left arm. I think that is due to having the right elbow TENSED for prolonged periods of time while waiting for the shot. The constant tension for a long time, e.g. football games, may cause a bit of tendinitis...??

"I think that is due to having the right elbow TENSED for prolonged periods of time while waiting for the shot."

This is a really good point, I never thought that might be the issue. Thank you.

 

[Marco Rodriguez]

I have had this condition for several months now and I am slowly getting out of it. My doctor asked me to bring the camera in to see how I was using it. In my case he observed that I was straining my forearm muscles in an unnatural manner when I lifted the camera up from an extended low position. I am using a Nikon D7100 with an 18-300 zoom and a hand strap instead of a neck strap.

I did physical therapy (Electricity, ultrasound, laser, UV, hot cold) for 15 days and did not make much progress. I got a new therapist who had massage experience and the pain begun to go away. I found several self massage videos in the web a few days ago and I am almost cured now.

The therapist has to understand the nature of your specific injury so he/she can apply the right therapy to your specific problem. Otherwise, it's just applying different methods win over wishful thinking. You have to understand that in most cases the muscles and tendons are not "damaged" as in "thorn", but they are more likely contracted or over exerted because your forearm wasn't too strong from the beginning. Part of the therapy is strengthening those muscles to avoid recurring injury. Good luck!

 

[NFG]

OK. I'm getting old. But after shooting football games lately -- and generally handling a 300mm Nikon 2.8 for most of it -- the next morning I have a pretty sharp pain in my elbow of my "shooting hand."

I've been suffering this for a while, after a long session I've basically raised 2kg to my face four hundred times (and done 400 squats, but that seems to benefit, not cripple me).

My solution was to add a micro-four-thirds to the gear bag. I make a few compromises, gain a few features (8fps instead of four, half the weight, poorer focus in low light) and keep the same equivalent lens (the 24-70 is my go-to for most events, 12-35mm F2.8 from Panasonic is so cute!)

When I don't need 36 megapixels the little camera holds up very well. And my arm doesn't hurt.

 

[Phixer323]

You really should go see a doctor/physical therapist. I had a similar issue and after months of conservative treatment, it was discovered that I had a partially torn ligment in the elbow that eventually had to be surgically repaired. As part of the conservative treatment I did wear an Aircast Pneumatic Armband. It did help to relieve some of symptoms until it was repaired.

I'm not saying what you have is the same, however I would take a look at the Aircast.

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