My Elbow Snaps/Clicks When I Do Pushups. Should I Be Worried? How Do I Fix This?

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Whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent towards them, pushups are a effective exercise for just about everyone regardless of your fitness goals. But only if you’re doing them correctly. In some cases, you might experience a pop or click in the elbow during the eccentric or concentric phases of the movement. Although it’s not painful, this still might raise some alarm bells. What is this noise caused by and how can you get rid of it fast? In this video, A.J. answers this question from a scientific perspective.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Perform pushup to get a baseline of what click pop sounds like before stretches
2) Pick one of the stretches listed below and hold it for 1-2 minutes
3) Re-test the pushup again and check to see if there is any improvement
IF IMPROVEMENT IS NOTICED: This muscle group is likely contributing to the noise
IF NO IMPROVEMENT IS NOTICED: This muscle group is likely not contributing to the noise
ELBOW EXTENSION STRETCHES & EXERCISES
-Tricep "Super rack" stretch
-Lacrosse ball muscle smash
-Skull crushers
ELBOW FLEXION STRETCHES & EXERCISES
-Straight arm band stretch
-Straight arm pole stretch
SHOULDER EXTERNAL ROTATION STRETCHES & EXERCISES
-High bar elbow tuck stretch
-Pole stretch #1
-Banded pull apart
SHOULDER INTERNAL ROTATION STRETCHES & EXERCISES
-Lying self arm wrestle
-Wall slide
SHOULDER FLEXION STRETCHES
-Reverse band stretch
SHOULDER ABDUCTION STRETCHES
-Lateral band stretch
Like us on Facebook for sneak previews!: / simplestrong. .
Follow A.J. on Instagram: / simplestron. .
MUSIC PROVIDED BY BENSOUND: www.bensound.com
London Ontario Personal Trainer
#elbow #click #pop

[@ivebeenthinking9173]

You're the first person to ever solve a joint problem for me. I realized my left arm (which was clicking at the elbow) had much weaker external rotation as opposed to my right arm which had much weaker internal rotation. I'm gonna work on this imbalance now. Thank you so much!

[@Himricks]

What did you do buddy to fix it

[@KXLLAGTAG]

Same

[@zen5818]

Bruh I like that you are straight to the point 🙂

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Not in the business of wasting people's time

[@zen5818]

@@SimpleStrongScience I appreciate you :)

[@MichaelJ44]

I want to know what vid you’re watching. He never got started until 50 seconds in

[@zen5818]

@@MichaelJ44 If you are stupid just keep quiet 🤫

[@iraseierstad6684]

bruh.

[@kevinraposo]

Great work - you'll have to put together a video for every cracking joint in the body now lol

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Challenge accepted

[@amri4777]

@@SimpleStrongScience bro i don't know the exercises? How do i do them?

[@zpsl6215]

Hip clicks would be nice, especially when doing leg raises

[@christiansantos6398]

@Kevin Raposo did it fix it?

[@Toby_theAmazingBorderCollie]

@@SimpleStrongScience( also didn’t watch the vid yet but does it mean something if the click hurts

[@seanh7139]

I rarely leave comments, but this deserves one. I have had clicking in my left elbow for months doing pushups. I used his approach to find out with muscles/tendons were the issues and it worked immediately. I now have knowledge to start a rehab program to prevent future injury. Best part is it took 15 min to help me diagnose

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Glad it helped

[@ye5293]

You should really make a video explaining the stretches

[@robertbornschein5583]

For me it was shoulder INT rotator cuffs. Exercises like the self arm wrestle and just band pulls prior to pushups completely made the popping noise go away and made my left arm feel more stable 🙏🏼

[@AlcatrazMeow]

My elbow clciks when I bend my arm, and it hurts...

[@oasishurl]

Probably doctor time, or physical therapist, or chiropractor.

[@Xandropemoff]

Same but it doesn’t hurt

[@Aakashputtur]

Mine don't hurt, it make sound when i take push-up and it's make me feel uncomfortable at gym.

[@lukeockwell4137]

@@Aakashputtur I have the exact same thing but when I do a shoulder press a click noise happens every rep

[@lightemup1023]

Don't bend your arm

[@AppyDocs]

I haven't watched more than 2 videos from this channel but I'm gonna subscribe and share it a lot.

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Thank you :)

[@konkoor881]

straight onto the point unlike those 20 minute videos lol thanks

[@citrusblast4372]

i cant believe how effective and easy those elbow extension stretches are. i could barely do push ups because how uncomfortable the click was and i did the super rack and it was nearly gone. it blew my mind

[@eXoguti094]

How can we get this man more views

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Subscribe and share my friend :)

[@w3lder4life85]

@@SimpleStrongScience when I extend my arm, my elbow clicks, I can hear a clicking noise, like a pen, what is that?

[@w3lder4life85]

@@SimpleStrongScience every time I extend it it clicks, there is not one time that it does not click when I extend my arm

[@lukey6886]

same thing happens to me. i also get it when i put pressure on it. i also have it in my knees and my thumbs

[@nannz.7266]

Simply by sharing to maximum people

[@kobealasco2916]

Dude thank you so much for this! Like last year was when my elbows started clicking everytime I did a pushup, and stopped doing pushups because of that, but now its fixed in just 10 seconds!!! (You earn a sub for that bro)

[@krishnavamshisomarathi8215]

How did it stop?what did u do?

[@oasishurl]

My elbows pop when I lift kettle bells, but I just tried the three push up test and they didn't. That's weird. I'll try kettle bell curls, then stretch for a minute, and try to isolate the problem that way. Thank you so much for introducing this process to me. I have always been anxious about this one tendon that seems to slide on to the inside of my elbow when I lift.

[@SimpleStrongScience]

You're welcome! Did it work?

[@niklasf.4899]

Great Video btw! Some Follow along stretching Routine would be really nice

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Coming soon!

[@SoecX]

​@@SimpleStrongScienceDid the video ever come? I can't find it.

[@99SBX]

Please make a video for each of the suggested stretches and exercises!!

[@fcobob78]

Agreed!

[@Morbutt]

my elbow has been popping for a very long time -- maybe 20 years now. I have not noticed an increase in the amount of popping, nor is it painful when it does. It seems to happen about as often as when I could crack my knuckles. Is this OK? The whole "constant" and "chronic" terminology throws me off. Meaning it "constantly" happens a little throughout the day

[@kollsepta]

Hey, I know its been two years, but my elbow pops even when not doing any exercise, normally it doesn't but if I go to the gym and train triceps, for the next 1-2 days (while I'm sore) it keeps popping every time I do a big motion with my arms, both of them, its getting annoying, it doesn't hurt or anything but it still got me worried, stretching doesn't really help much.

[@blanethegoat]

i looked this up not to watch the video but to say i just realized this does not happen to me anymore, this used to happen to me no matter what if i did a pushup. but it just stopped out of nowhere

[@SoecX]

Is there a follow-up video on how to do these excersises or can anyone recommend some? On half of them I don't find any results in how to do them.

[@SergioLopez-qr9xg]

Excellent Information, thank you!

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jaythehooper8130]

shared to all my friends and liked and subbed thanks I was having this problem this helped

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Glad it helped

[@thedogcooper01]

bro thank you!! when i started doing push ups i noticed my left elbow started to make a snap noise i was kinda worried and i never thought anyone could fix this. My elbow feels much safer now. But i did started to feel more weight on it after i did the exercises.. Do you know why?

[@sluggo562]

I've gotten this click during any kind of elbow exercise: curls, pulldowns, pushups, arnold presses, etc. my whole life. Some days on every single rep. I've had people look over and ask if I'm okay. Been going to the gym since high school nearly twenty years ago. Never had a coach know what it was and never thought to google it until now. Bahaha. I'm not sure what to conclude from the video other than changing position could work if you don't like the sound.

[@lukeyy1664]

Exact same but I'm 15, did you find a solution ?

[@AlcatrazMeow]

@@lukeyy1664 it's called snapping triceps

[@calipower202]

I feel 3-4 pops and slides of tendons when i completely straighten my arm and lock out my elbows....imma calisthenics athlete and im very irritated by this clicking of elbows What is the problem cuz i feel many pops not just a single one

[@haziqmazlan4331]

Can you show which exercises to do for each muscle?

[@basasjulius662]

Thank you! I did not hear the popping sound now when I do diamond push up

[@joannawhiteside8106]

Is there a place where the stretches below are demonstrated? I’m familiar with some but not all.

[@thorn8395]

My shoulders pop while doing pushups, what do I do about that

[@GurpreetSingh--]

my elbows dont click when doing push ups, they click when I do skull crushers. or whatever they are called (overhead triceps exercise) can someone suggest me something.

[@riichan2895]

no mine is like it electrifies in the forearm? pls i need an answer

[@hoangnguyen8698]

My elbow cracks about 20 to 30 times a day wen i bend and straighten it. Is there anything you recommend?

[@giftedntwisted9222]

Whenever i tense my arm. Like in a pushup or whenever. My elbow clicks. I tried everything but it still clicks, can u please help me doc?

[@ij4456]

Guys can anyone plz suggest me videos of the exercises which are in the description . Am not able to understand how its performed

[@alexgoenne1689]

I have this exact problem in my Left arm. Last year I pressed myself out of the pool and now I have a dent in my elbow and I still get the popping clicking in my tricep. What have I done to my elbow and how can fix this painful dent?

[@redo8701]

Me elbow pops is poping for two years do you think thats fixeble?

[@irmaescobar6778]

Help I have pops and sometimes some of the pops are very VERY painful please help me

[@unknown7_gamer]

Your are best bro its so helpful Thanks you❤

[@cliveandersonjr.8758]

Super helpful!!! Thank you! 🙏

[@SimpleStrongScience]

You're so welcome!

[@cliveandersonjr.8758]

@@SimpleStrongScience Is there anywhere that I can find the tutorials for these stretches?

[@GoTime999]

If I just continue doing push-ups in good form will it eventually go away?

[@Tiempo14u]

Bro, I snapped my left elbow 3 days ago. I was doing push-ups. I heard a "CLICK" I'm stubborn so I ignored it and finished my set. It swelled up a bit for 2 days It still hurts. Not as bad now on my 3rd day but I haven't been able to do a push-up yet. Should I wait a week?

[@victorramirez361]

Mi e pops because, first im fat and trying to get in shape again. Second is they are under train I think. The pops are only in the first sets and stops later on the half of the seco d set. Does it change if the workout I do is more withe kettlebells? When I do push presos with them they dont pop but when I do a push up they pop. Thanks

[@xywinsteveansibey6109]

My left elbow has clicking sound but my right has no clicking sound

[@bharathl9360]

Where can I find the exercise and stretches tutorial

[@tmoney7237]

I wish ive seen this when i was younger my elbow cracks constantly and sometime it gets stuck inbetween cracks. I have to crack my elbows like every 20 seconds

[@muhitsinha2074]

My elbow started popping when I joined the gym and left and the popping sound became regular

[@adrianatdottru]

If you stop exercising your arms for a few days will it go away?

[@swarly8354]

I feel snapping in my triceps not elbows is it the same?

[@detectorismocomkevin2386]

I do incline push ups. I do this to learn how to them properly because I can't do them on the floor, my elbow pops every time and it hurts. When doing inclined push ups the only thing I feel is the muscle working out.

[@doomer6736]

Is it fixed ? If so how?

[@yuridapted7459]

dude my nerve becomes pinched if i keep at it for too long, which renders me unable to perform my routine as the pain will become unbearable. therfore i’m forced to draw my left arm even further behind to about my core and execute. which makes it harder. why

[@funwithculturefwcofficial7995]

it every time stck when doing pushup onnly when i move back up

[@adahall9321]

What is the straight arm band stretch and straight arm pole stretch?

[@UniBrowDrew]

All my bones pop like fire crackers when I stretch before working out so I was scared but thank you

[@evanmansuper281]

So is the muscle group that is causing the pop just weak?

[@user-bee12345ro]

I broke my arm when i did my second push up and my back is brocken but when i found this vid it helps

[@vex_virtualreality8849]

How do I know what the muscle is called

[@geazygaming8644]

Sir it's same for doing dumbbell curls (Bicep ) While sitting straight, Then after 2 reps my left elbow pop like a normal sounds, It's dangerous ? I only lift 5kg- 10kg dumbbell.

[@lamarsafi3073]

Thank you 😊 you solved my problem

[@xquickx8292]

Thanks for the information :) I have elbow snapping from ulnar nerve that goes over the medial epicondyle. Did you experience something like this?

[@stenionet]

I have the same problema. But I cannot find the solution.

[@nikto618]

I have it too.

[@goldenbullet1098]

hey I understand the streches, the elbow extensions ones really helped my left arm but the clicks are worse in my right arm and no streches seem to be helping it, any advice?

[@doomer6736]

Is it fixed? If it is I would like to know how it's fixed

[@RogueMemez]

I get this click whenever i move my elbow upwards, and whenever i do pushups. Ive had it for more than to years and it occured after plating a soccer match. I dribbled past some players but then was fouled and my arm felt pain for a week, even since then i keep getting the click

[@4dsushi217]

i broke an arm at the elbow twice.. so that might be causing my popping.

[@tiktokreels925]

My elbow back tendent make poping sound and pain in tendent when i do pushups

[@lelouchlamperouge9721]

Good video, thanks, do you know a stretch that targets the medial head of the triceps?

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Why are you specifically looking to target that spot?

[@saimom_tdm]

My left arm 💥💥💥 direct loud noise but there's no feeling but poping which just making me too much tensed

[@Daily_islamic_reminder1]

I watched thousand of videos about this and non of them worked and then this guy with only one stretch my clicks are reduced to atoms

[@carmenangeloglu]

My left leg clicks for years and it doesn't get well even if I warm up before the exercise. Do you have any advice on how to fix it?

[@willstatmen9591]

i have the same problem, but then my mom took me to a really good hospital, and the doctor fixed me up with a few simple treatment and medicine

[@CattoPatto]

man I was gonna search up "why does my elbow hurt when I draw" but I ended up finding a solution to one of my other elbow problems

[@im2lazy4u12]

I don't know if you'll see this message, but it can happen, sometimes, that at my first push-up blocks my elbow and makes it crack when I push it further. This happens only on the first push, then my elbows are fine and they don't crack at all anymore and neither any sound is coming from them. Should I be worried about this?

[@firen2040]

that is normal don't worry

[@mysticgatekeeper]

Once the location of the snapping is isolated and exercises begin, how many times per day should the exercise be performed and for how long does the routine need to be committed to?

[@donaldkasper8346]

Sounds to me like some stress damage or inflamation and you need to take time off.

[@mysticgatekeeper]

@@donaldkasper8346 I can't afford to see a physio therapist because my employer has me working 38 hrs per week and 40 are needed for benefits. I'm looking for ways to correct this problem myself by referring to these videos.

[@mascot6418]

What about a shock on my one hand I get one. IDK

[@niklasf.4899]

I have a pain in my hamstrings during squats. Do you know whats the cause of this is and/or how to fix this?

[@SimpleStrongScience]

I will get back to you!

[@JAY-vy6vr]

Knee plz... Since my MCL Injury my knee keeps popping

[@yllinebiu1208]

THANKKK YOUU SO MUCH BRO

[@tusharmishra-zt6bf]

My right hand's bicep clicking while doing wall push ups

[@vinayakbhatia896]

I get current / tickles in and around my elbow. At time that current even radiates to fingers for milli-second. What should I do?

[@muhammadkazim8483]

Go to sleep!

[@Honey-kw2ez]

Hey bro Are you fine now?

[@behulls]

Great video mate! My elbows click on the 1st pushup and then they're fine. My left shoulder has been making a grinding noise though. Any idea of what this could be and how to fix it??

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Grinding is a pretty complex issue. Leave it with me and I'll get back to you ;)

[@behulls]

@@SimpleStrongScience legend.

[@jimandrews8768]

​@@SimpleStrongScience hi, did you ever do anything on grinding? I get this from my elbow and I'm a bit worried...it's quiet but still there...light clicks but if I'm in a quiet room and move my right elbow in a certain way..e.g hand turned in and some flexion then I get an obvious grinding noise. I also am getting a feeling of catching with bench press and dips. The left elbow has no noise at all in any position. I like to train with heavy weights but now am scared in wearing out my joint.

[@abitcrude8591]

What happened to me is every 2 push ups it will pop once

[@kurushi857]

My left elbow does this constantly. It affects my balance during exercises that use the elbows like bench press etc :(

[@MolinariDC2]

3/2 clicks right?

[@kurushi857]

@@MolinariDC2 yeah, I can't do barbell bench presses with heavy weights. I can do dumbbells tho.. so annoying.

[@_MAKAROV]

@@MolinariDC2 mine one doing 5 to 6 time when i close my left arm. And then diagnosed for 4 to 5 second and when i try it again it's do again like my left hand poping and clicking all the time. And i don't know what to do

[@PEProzent]

My elbow does not pop during these push ups. So should I do them more to get rid of it in general?

[@SimpleStrongScience]

probably form issue then

[@phlorenzmercado6564]

How about ulnar nerve snapping?

[@Deraj_]

Holy crap this worked… thank you

[@SimpleStrongScience]

You're welcome!

[@marcuspurcell6731]

Hello just came to this video have been started doing dumbbells and now I have a clicking sound of the elbow it’s not going away and happens every time I tense the biscep or when I lift a heavy weight tried many things but it isn’t going is there anything else you could suggest

[@AlcatrazMeow]

How you doing? Any change?

[@marcuspurcell6731]

No change but now my shoulders clicking and my other elbow is clicking

[@mootil849]

Everytime I do hammer curls it cracks and hurts a lot same with pullups oushups sometimes it cracks etc if i do it to much the pain becomes unbearable

[@fouzi4386]

Any solutions ?😣

[@suyash.01]

Wow this is so informational but so less views!!

[@Andrew-cc4wq]

When I bench press my elbow pops like a shotgun been doing it for awhile

[@yourlordship1119]

I havn't been able to do a push up in years because my elbows snap and it actually hurts me when they do. It'll ache after the snap for a couple minutes.

[@wakawakaayeaye]

Any progress now dude ?

[@lukeockwell4137]

I have a clicking noise when I do a shoulder press,I’ve lowerd the weights but it still makes the same click noise every other rep,do you know why this is?

[@SimpleStrongScience]

likely form issue...

[@lukeockwell4137]

@@SimpleStrongScience thanks for the reply dude,I’m going to go watch a couple vids on how to perfect the form

[@southerncritic9090]

mine does this weird twitch/tingle feeling

[@adityapandey8245]

Hey AJ. Big fan of your science backed videos. Love from India.

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Awesome, thank you!

[@wat722]

I did all of these stretches but my right elbow is still clicking, any reason why?

[@Fatbuttocks-bf6ds]

Maybe you overworked out your elbow/ joints . Could be your not doing proper from. Or there’s to much pressure on the elbow.

[@philosopherpot5496]

my elbow sounds like a crunching sounds when i move my elbow. it doesnt hurt at all but its louder the more weight so like if i jus move my elbow its really quiet but when i do pushups its much louder. its only in my left elbow and im only 13 years old

[@mateuszradlinski3590]

I have the exact thing but in my right elbow

[@abitcrude8591]

Me too

[@Hussvideoss]

Same

[@edwardolopez3368]

thank you so much!

[@SimpleStrongScience]

You're welcome!

[@dar3devil505]

Thank you so much

[@Endurance-tq7fi]

Shoulders back and down needs to be stopped . It jams up the thoracic outlet and therefore full arm nerve issues .

[@vex_virtualreality8849]

Because on my left arm the popping is on the right side of my elbow

[@vex_virtualreality8849]

*elbow

[@alincraciun6667]

My right elbow feels like it snaps pretty hard even when i just normally bent my hand, and it s not the same as my left elbow. I also experience a small pain which increases if i do repetitive exercises such as pushup( but only if i do diamond or close hands, if i do them wide there is no popping nor pain) or benchpress. Any suggestions? Should i visit a doctor becouse it s getting pretty anoying and i m unable to do some exercices.

[@AlcatrazMeow]

it's snapping triceps...

[@Honey-kw2ez]

How are you now bro?

[@fouzi4386]

Any solutions 😣

[@avishekshaw6359]

I did the stretch but it's still clicking. Any advice?

[@Honey-kw2ez]

Hi bro How are you now?

[@matthewliu9613]

Great Video! I've been experiencing this problem and want to fix it. I'm not sure what these stretches and exercises are, do you have videos on them?

[@SimpleStrongScience]

Coming soon ;)

[@GabesHacks]

I was thinking the same thing. Only my left elbow pops.

[@user-Myeongsoo]

@@SimpleStrongScience I googled the stretches and exercises but I cannot find any information about what they are. The outside of my elbow pops whenever I flex my arm with the back of my hand facing forward.

[@Moji8]

Mine click and hurt and I think it’s cuz I have tricep tendinitis

[@degustace_youtube]

This is the worst type of pushup for me, it hurts like shit and pops like thunder.