Dumb Dumbell Question

[JohnnyTheFox]

Ohhh the pun... :D

Anyway, is there any proper technique to using dumbells? The position to sit/stand in to avoid straining muscles?

Reason being I had an op for my apendix before xmas so sometimes after doing some I find my right side gets a bit sore. Around the top the thigh. It's not a serious problem the doc warned me every so often I may get a "reminder" I had something done.

I thought maybe its the way I'm using them that I'm pulling too much on my legs maybe?

[TheKillerPenguin]

It depends on the exercise you're doing with the dumbells. what types of exercises are you doing?

Edit: reading your post again makes me think you mean curling.

the way I do em is sit on my bench, put one leg out at 90* the bench, and the other at 45* with that leg. If I'm curling with my left arm, my right leg is at 90* to the bench, and the opposite is true with my right arm. When I curl, I bring my arm and the weight down slowly at about halfway between my two legs, and bring it back up more quickly up to my shoulder. You want to use a weight that allows you to isolate your arm muscles from the rest of your body; however, this obviously gets harder the more reps you do in the set. I do wind up using my legs and my body to help when my arm tires out. Not sure if it's good form (it probably isn't, actually), but it won't hurt anything unless your back is really weak (and hopefully it isnt since you're a cyclist!)

[JohnnyTheFox]

Yeah I mean't curling, keeping one leg down seems to make sense, I'll try some variations out and see. Thanks anyway.

[andygates]

www.exrx.net has exercise descriptions, muscle maps, anything you need. That'll show what to do for what part and how to do it correctly. Remember: controlled steady movements, no heaving, throwing or cheating.