How I Train Around Elbow & Wrist Pain Without Skipping Progressive Overload

Answering a viewer's question about elbow pain and walking through the same three-stage approach I use for my own chronic wrist pain so I can keep training without giving up progressive overload.

I cover dumbbell form and elbow position, why eccentric mode on a smart gym can take pressure off the joints, VersaGrips vs. cheap knockoffs, the stack of wrist guards, braces, and thumb spicas I rotate between, and the heated wrist massager I use on bad days. From there I get into smart-gym software, Speediance vs. AEKE vs. Fit Hub Titan, Tonal-style arms, why I am waiting for a 300+ lb machine, my 240 to 210 lb cut, Project ARIA, and why I disagree with planning a month-long deload.

Personal experience, not medical advice. If you have acute or persistent pain, see a qualified clinician.

More from Toby: https://tobyonfitnesstech.com

Chapters:

00:00 Viewer question: training around elbow pain

00:52 Why I switched from barbells to dumbbells

01:12 Cable machines, eccentric mode, and rep tempo

03:49 Form demo: elbow position with adjustable dumbbells

05:08 Chronic wrist pain and training through injuries

06:02 Why I disagree with planning a month-long deload

08:57 My three-stage approach to chronic joint pain

09:04 Step 1: VersaGrips and why the knockoffs did not cut it

11:42 Step 2: Wrist guards and braces

13:18 Step 3: Heated wrist massager

16:23 Three-stage recap

16:41 Smart gyms with Tonal-style arms

28:06 Honest take on Speediance software updates

29:05 Cutting from 240 to 210 and seasonal periodization

32:15 Project Aria: my AI fitness assistant

34:52 What I did after my last wrist flare-up

38:30 Knee braces and accumulated training injuries

41:51 Make training enjoyable

44:46 Intentional training, intentional family time

47:04 Fit Hub naming, Speediance Whoop competitor, and Nanos

52:44 Why I will not train like David Goggins

55:01 Wrap-up and thanks

Tags: Elbow pain, wrist pain, progressive overload, smart gym, Speediance, AEKE, Fit Hub Titan, VersaGrips, home gym, fitness tech, injury management, strength training