There are three types of carrying angles. That’s not important to know… what is important is your ability to be in that angle while performing bicep curls. “Put your hands in an anatomical position (Like the charts-relax let the arm hang by your sides please” Palms FACING OUT hanging please… Lets say you were using a straight bar for a curl exercise. Then you would walk towards the bar… without them moving a muscle, and grip the bar. This is only in a fixed environment (straight or EZ-curl bar) the fixed joint of the elbow will work most efficiently at this angle. Doesn’t this picture remind you of the anatomical charts?
The anatomical charts represent a perfect carrying angle. Interesting who thought of that? We all have different anatomical angles we must obey and when you do not, one of two things will happen. You can get all types of medial forearm strain and if you are not experiencing any pain, chances are you were protracting the shoulder girdle to compensate for these forces being employed. The elbow is a hinge it is not designed to deal with asymmetrical forces. Most of the force analysis is through the extensor groups and that’s not the goal. The biceps are not working to maximum capacity because of all the internal forces vectoring through the joints and connective tissues. Also if you were to analyze your ability to supinate (when you put your arms in an anatomical position palms up) you cannot supinate all the way (nine times out of ten with a straight bar.) What the heck are we doing with the straight bar? The ez-curl bar is far from easy if you hold where the manufacturer designed the angles. We suggest holding the bar in your carrying angle regardless of any bend via the bar. Always determine if you are in correct anatomical position for total regional emphasis of the elbow flexors. I am not saying that if you were in proper positioning it would be wrong. I am just stating the fact that there are much better ways to isolate the hinge joint to place more regional emphasis on the biceps.
For example, the dumbbell or a cable are free motion and will not dictate or create crummy forces. The force analysis is different and the environment is far superior for the goal of hypertrophy without the stress of internal forces. Elbow flexion and radial ulnar positions are all different. If I am totally supinated (palms-up) the biceps shine through as the prime mover. If I am in a semi-pronated position (shake a hand/hammer curls) the brachial radialis shines as the biceps and other forearm muscles assist. If you go into a pronated position (spill the soup) the bracialis shines, and the biceps default. What I mean by default is the radius is a bone that moves into a pivot situation, so when we pronate and elbow flex, the tendon, which connects to the radial aspect, gets twisted under the bone. There is not much force production,(stimulus) because the tendon is twisted under the radius.
Dave Parise #Fitnessfixer
