Recovery From A Torn Tricep Tendon

joel toronzo benched 800 a few times this year in comps,,,

I just had surgery on my tendon tricep rupture. It is a long recovery and rehab will be for me 3-6 months. 3 months with just working with movement of the arm. And the last will light weight. It is a long process, but it get better. I have learned from if and know when to stop, if I feel pain.

I tore mine August 6th - no surgery was required.
I am slowly making progress - but still have a long ways to go. Was benching 355 - now 185 - arm still cramps up on 5th or 6th rep - but better than it was.

I tore My triceps tendon in January 07.....a full year later I am only doing sets of 15 with 135 on bench.....i used to do sets of 12 with 225....so it is def. a long process.....recently though my tricep is starting to feel pretty good. Soreness can be an issue right where the tendon inserts to elbow, after a hard workout, but my recovery is faster. Drink Pinapple juice....Ive learned it helps inflamtion quite a bit.

i am still in hospital after I tore my tricep tendon last saturday night after i hit it agsinst a wooden bench. At the moment i am hoping to recover as soon as possible although i guess i have to forget this summer competition :-(

i tore my tricep off the bone and had surgery 3 wks ago. i've been working out the left side of my body, doing legs and cardio its better than nothing. i get my cast off the 16th of may and then i start rehab. my dr. said it depends on how good your muscle tissue is to determine how fast u heal. mine was not very good so it could be 6 months or more before i can even attempt 2 lift. it sucks but things could always be worse good luck.

Had a partial tear on my left tricept tendon, had surgery on may 22 of 2008.Still doing rehab and im having little pain when i do lock outs during rehab exercises. I was benching 315lbs for 8-10 reps,and 275lbs on incline bench for 10-12 reps last summer but i stopped training in december of 2007 due to pain on my elbow. Doc said it was pretty bad,lots of scar tissue and bone spurs. Doc says maybe by late dec. or early jan of 2009 can try to hit the weights!

Tore my tricep tendon completely off the bone and partially tore my tricep muscle off the tendon. Had surgery in August 2008. Wore a cast for 10 days and then wore a DonJoy IROM brace for 6 weeks. I started light rehad (range of motion, gravity assisted only) 3 weeks after surgery. I am starting to us dumbell weights now, but very light to start to build up strength. Doctor told me originally 8 to 12 months before he would release me back to full duty at work. Very slow recovery. Doctor said that I probably wont get back to 100% of where I was before, but more like 90 - 95%. Doctor said that my tear was a real bad one and quite rare. I am very optomistic that I will be able to return to full duty by January 2009, but we will see what the doc says about that.

On September 24th, 2008 I had a tricep tendon rupture that tore 50% off the bone and 50% tendon from the tricep muscle near the inner part of my right arm, I had an MRI done and confirmed I needed surgery, I had surgery on Sept 29th, and was placed in a splint for 10 days, and had a removable arm brace on ever since. I am taking Glutamine and MSM, Super Cissus, fish oils, Glucosamine, Joint and Ligament Vits, HGH etc... I am hoping for a speedy recovery to get back in the gym asap!! If anyone has any helpful information pertaining to this type of injury is very much appricated. I feel everyones pain that has posted a comment on here. I have another 4 weeks of the 0 degree arm brace before i start physical therapy. Good luck to everyone else. God Bless, E

I had a complete tricep tear on my left elbow along with a dislodged bone spur. Had surgery June 23, a hard cast for three weeks, a removeable cast for 6 weeks after. Doctor said because I'm 45 no heavy ever again. used to do 325 on the bench now I'm luckey to bench the bar. Light dumbells for ever. Doc said very rare tear and very long recovery. Lots of pain - good luck to all that had the operation...

I tore my tricep in Sep 2007, just a few threads remained attached. Had surgery in Nov 2007. Was benching 205 before tear. Was in cast for 8 weeks & had 6 months of rehab after. It's Feb 2009 & I've worked my way up to a couple of reps at 185. Took awhile, but I'm consistently getting better. I generally don't go higher than 165. I'm taking it slow because I "do not" want to go thru this ever again. God Bless.

i broke the head off my right radial bone in aug 2008 they fixed but neglected to hook up tricep tondon is tore completely off boneam going for surgery tommorrow i am gonna recover fully!!!

Im a 48 yr old Personal Trainer who has been lifting over 30 yrs drug free. I had a 85% triceps tear Mar 2009. 6 weeks cast 2 weeks range of motion, now I have full range and Im starting my own rehab. Tubing and superlight pushdowns. I still have pain when exercising but can see muscle memory recovery on its way. I was benching 315 incline prior to the surgery and will keep you posted. Im planing on a FULL RECOVERY 6/16/09

I fell in my kitchen of all places, no weight lifting required. The tendon was completly torn from the left elbow and a partial tear of the muscel from the tendon. I did this in sept of 2008, but was unawear of the extent of the injury until dec 2008. The repair was completed in Jan 2009,rehab has been slow but steady. What I will end up with is as you all know directly related to how much I put in to it. Find a good surgeon and dont wait to find out how bad it is,the sooner repaired the sonner your recovery starts.

i tore my right tricep tendon off the elbow (inner tri tendon)on july 5 09.surgery tomorrow aug.11.doc says 3 weeks should be doing therapy 6 weeks strength training.same surgery as branch warren had.exact samething his dr.told him.but i will let you know how it goes in my next post.

bigkris here had my surgery done on aug.11 as i said went good didnt feel any pain after surgery.kinda like a tooth ache.had to wear a cast for 2 weeks. on tues.aug.25 went to get that thing off.doc said i would need a hinged brace but when he took my stitches out he said i didnt need it i was heeling very well.dont have any pain just alittle stiff when i try to bring my arm up in a full bicep curl.feels very good i am pleased so far.have to see him on sept.10th.

Hello,

Back in April I was involved in an incident while bodysurfing which involved the rupture of my triceps tendon. I was misdiagnosed for many months until I finally had an MRI and was notified that I needed surgery. The surgery went really well. However because of the the late diagnosis the tricep tendon had shifted 2 inches away from the elbow - Considered just minor as the surgeon explained it would have been a lot less complicated if i had the surgery earlier. I had my arm in a cast completely straight for 6 weeks! Last week I had experienced a setback with an infection in the elbow. Its been over 13 weeks now and I have approximately 90 degrees movement. I started rehab this week, doing one arm tricep extensions with no weight! It was slightly inflamed the next day and it feels a lot better today. I will slowly start when the inflammation is gone.
Could you suggest ways in which I can rehabilitate my triceps tendon injury to strengthen it, get back full range of motion and start working out again.

Thank you so much.
I look forward to hearing from you!

John Distefano

Had surgery on March 6 of this year for commplete tricep rupture. Surgery went well but at this point I am about 115 degrees flex and cannot completely straighten my arm. Doc thinks scar tissue is preventing my arm from completely straightening out....was benching around 425 prior to injury ..now about 190-200lbs on the bench...very frustrating but continue to work at it. Anyone else with the same problem when it comes to the extension issue?

Had tendinosis(not tendonisis) of tricep tendon for year. Was benching 315 for 5 reps..dropped to 145 lbs for 10. pain was unbearable. found out it was actually 80% torn and the remaining tissue was frayed and weak. Surgery on july 30th..drilled holes in elbow, stiched tissue, then anchored thru to the other side...very swollen 12 weeks later..no extra skin on elbow.. very tight.. still no weight lifted to date...very dissapointed...hoping for better result by now.

Tore my tricep tendon Oct 22nd 2009 while doing incline d/bells 90lbs. It just popped! Iced it and saw a physio. When the swelling went down I saw an Orthpaedic Surgeon who said I needed to operate right away. I had my operation on the 29th October 2009. It was a complete tear and my surgeon took a picture of it during surgery and sent it to my phone. I have to wear the limited mobility brace by Dr Med for 8 weeks. Was told no weights for 6 months. I was diagnosed with chronic tendonitis and discovered that I also have it in my right elbow as well. I feel like a walking time-bomb! I have been bodybuilding for 4-5 days a week for 16 years now and was told that lifting heaving weights has slowly damaged my tendons. I will keep you guys posted on my road to recovery. Thank god I took endone and morpheine after the operation as the pain was unbearable for the first few days.

On Sept 6, 2009 I had a complete tricep tendon rapture. The doc had me in a soft cast for 2 weeks and a hard cast for the last 2 weeks. Rehab twice a week. It's been 3 months, so far, so good. I'm up to 5 lbs doing french press 1 arm to the back and every 2 weeks I'll increase the lbs. I was doing 45 lbs for 12 reps before my injury. It's a slow and steady recovery. After 6 months I'll start to bench again and not before.

I had a 90% L shapped tear of the right tricep tendon at the base of the bone, it occured after i was boarded in a non checking men's league hockey game. Had surgey on 12-1 had cast removed 3 days later and was fitted with the donjoy brace at 80 degrees. It's now 12-7 and the 12 staples remain until 12-11. I had 2 titianium screws drilled in the tendon and bone to re-attach them, this was done after he grafted the bone to promote faster scaring and healing. I had very minamal pain and my Dr is very well know here in s fla and aggressive and proactive in my rehab which will begin in 5 weeks or so.I did work out heavy 3 days a week at the gym prior to the injury and hope to get back to it in 6 months as well as get back on the ice!

Update 1-9-10. Last week I was able to stop wearing the brace and have full range of motion already. I started doing light bicept curls and will start rehab on the the tricept in 3 weeks.

hey bigkris here!sorry didnt get back to you guys but its been almost 5 months now since my tricep tendon tear of the elbow.been training abit.can do all movements getting stronger doing pushdowns with 120 but my outer tri is not responding yet still frustrated size is not coming back hardley any pain in elbow just sometimes when i push it alittle to much had a great doctor.kinda strange had surgery on the inner tri but the outer tri is not responding to exercise at all.soon ill stick it with igf1 long r3.anyone have any suggestions about that?????

I'm 64 yrs.old, and I suffered a ruptured rt. tricep tendon. Had surgery on 07/09 and am recovering quickly (been lifting/pwr lifting since I was 22). I don't have mobility problems, and am doing pretty good at tricep work. I'm not benching yet, just machine work. The doc said I'd be 100% in or about 07/10. I do all the deadlifting/leg work I want along with back/shoulders. I'm actually saying it's possible to "get over it" with proper training and patience.

I'm a active male in my late 30's. Been weight training since I was 14. Back in 2002 I pulled bone spurs off of both right and left elbows while snowboarding. Around 50% of the right tendon tore when the spur pulled off. The tear occurred in the middle so I was left with portions of the tendon on both sides. No tear on the left arm, but the tendon did pull the spur off the bone. I run a charter fishing business, and was told if they were to do surgery on the right elbow that the recovery would likely be 6 to 8-mos. I would essentially loose my business. So I never got it done. Since then I have about 90% of the strength in my right arm and 95% in my left. I have been training with weights since. I can still bench 225 8 times on my last set. Everything had healed up nicely until last Sat. I separated the spur on the left elbow again while surfing (interesting that the right towrn one is fine). I have full movement on the left but I can't put any pressure on it. I can feel the spur moving around in my elbow. Very uncomfortable. Just had an xray and am awaiting an MRI on Tues to see if there are any tears (I doubt there are because there hasn't been significant movement of the spur since the initial injury). May just bite the bullet and get the surgery. Wondering if anyone has had the surgery that simply gets rid of the bone spurs and reattaches the tendon. Again, I'm assuming there are no tears.

tore bone spur off left elbow and tore tricep tendon 70%. Had surgery feb 12 2010. dr said it was worse than thought. tendon snapped back 7" and could not be pulled back. He had to use synthetic material to splice back to bone with anchor.I tore while bench pressing. Will I ever be able to bench heavy again and do heavy triceps lifting.Lifting weights is my only hobby.I do not know what I will do if i cannot lift.However I do not want to go through that again. Theropist to start moving elbow this thurs 3 weeks after surgery.

Ruptured both of my Tri tendon doing pullover with a barbell, too wide of an angel i guess for thwe weight. I 49 and I compete, Its been 6 weeks for the surgery on the right arm and I can feel the diifrence, and I just had the left surgery a week ago. I can feel the muscle is recovering one thing i will change is stay away from free weights. still lift heavy. just use smith and hammer. Stay positive God bless

Good day to all of you who posted your stories. I am 39 and just learned I tore my Right Tricp Tendon away from the insertion on the elbow. It is not a complete tear but ugly all the same. I am an elementary physical education teacher and am very active. I also play Semi-Pro Football and will be taking a break from that because of the injury/surgery. I plan on having the surgery in May and by the sounds of it my summer vacation will be plenty busy with recovery and taking my girls here and there. Right now i am in constant pain and looking forward to the surgery. I am very happy with my doctor and his assistants in Buffalo, NY. They are very hopefull and will be aggressive in their approach. I will undergo the process of cleaning up the "hamburger" mess my tendon is in, then the remaining tendon will be sewn to holes drilled thru the bone. Three to six months is determined with positive thoughts and prayers. No screws and pins will be used, but my arm will be in a soft cast up to three or four weeks. I plan on attending our area state of the art physical therapy facility to rehab. If everything goes as planned, I will be back to normal again soon. Good luck to all of you. Wish me luck.

Good luck to all with their tri rehab. 48 yr old male who has worked out with weights since a teen. Initially tore the middle of my right tri tendon at attachment to elbow when fell on ski pole in Dec. 09. Several weeks later went to Dr. who took x-ray but no MRI. He treated it for bursitis, drained bursa and gave me a cortisone injection. Of course it felt better so 2 weeks later back in gym doing heavy dumbell presses and tore the rest (outside edges) of the tendon from the elbow. MRI showed complete rupture. Had reattachment surgery on 2/15/10 with holes drilled through elbow bone and sutures through holes and tendon. In a splint at 0 degree (straight down) for 1st week. Then placed in adjustable brace set at 0 degrees for 2 weeks. At week 3 they adjusted brace to 110 degrees flexion and started me on rehab doing simple range of motion exercises to stretch the tendon. Today is 6 weeks post op and I have almost complete range of motion to match 135 degree flexion in good arm. Think the Doc will let me out of brace when I see him tomorrow. Except for the first week and half following surgery I have continued to work out with machines and do cardio - working unilaterally and around the injured tricep. Began to do machine flys machine lateral raises and very light back work on injured side two weeks ago being very careful with the tri tendon. Significant atrophy in right bicep and tricep but am hopeful they will come back quick. Believe Doc will allow light strengthening of the tricep this week with bands or light (e.g. 1 pound) dumbells. This has been quite an experience learning to use left hand to shave and eat with etc. The tendon feels like it is attached very solidly though. I feel like I can come back 100% from this but will be very careful in the future and will rethink my training strategy as far as heavy free weights are concerned.

Hi Whistlerdog,

I hope you feel better now, I have pretty much the same injury that you have in my left tricep tendon. I had the surgery the 2/26/2010 with the same procedure that you had in your surgery,I have three holes in my elbow(olecranon bone)and a suture to re-attached the tendon tricep to the bone,is already been almost 6wks since the surgery,and my Dr. has not started me in any rehab or movement only the DonJoy brace in 90 degrees. When i read your post, i was surprised that you had already started lots of things,i will be happy to start all that right now, but i want more information from you, how you feel now? please keep me informed, maybe your doctor is more capable and have more experience than mine, because mine is in Spain, and you are in U.S.A. and maybe he has more experience, with this type of sport injuries. Thanks, the Lord Jesus give you the best healing.

Federico, Thank you very much and I hope that your recovery is going well. Yesterday (4/13/10) was 8 weeks post surgery for me. I am going to physical therapy twice a week and we are working on light strengthening of the tricep tendon and muscle using weighted balls, 1-3 pound dumbells, flexible tubing, putty etc. The dumbell kickbacks are painful. The Dr. told me I would be released to use the arm as I can tolerate at 8 weeks. I have been using it alot around the house however, cleaning the pool, yard work etc. and may be overusing it. Yesterday and today it is unusually tight and sore and range of motion more limited than last week for some reason. Also after I got very good flexion last week and able to touch my shoulder with hand, I suddenly developed a full extension problem and not able to lock the arm out straight. The tricep muscle is still very very weak. This has been very frustrating. I am very fortunate that my Dr. has extensive sports medicine training and specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery. He studied in Switzerland and Germany and was for a short time assistant team physician with the N.Y. Mets baseball team. Let me know how your recovery is going. Best wishes and prayers for complete healing.

Hello all, glad i found this page. Im 48 worked out since i was 15 . I tore my tricep from a fall near my elbow in dec.09,wow 10 minutes before the pain subsided. I had weakness and ext. issues but kept working hoping it would get better. Finally went to doc i knew something was wrong. An x ray showed little,finally got MRI in Mar.2010 surgery needed. Surgery done on 4/2/10 doc said he had to cut v in muscle because it shortened up ,then repaired it with a hole in the bone and sutures.Doc said it was rare only 1% of this injury.Surgery at NYU hosp for joint diseases.Spent 10 days in hard half cast then got arm brace at 45 degrees today is two weeks from surgery.36 staples come out 4/19/10 hope i get to move it then, it feels good no pain, but he dosent want me to lift anything.Good luck to all thanks for postings it all helps. Work hard

Hi Whistlerdog,

This is Federico again, I prayed for you for the Lord to heel you, I hope you are getting better everyday. So far today, I have two months of my surgery. The Dr. told me I could do full-bicep weight power training, he told me not to do pull-ups yet and not to do tricep at all, until next month, so far I have trained my bicep, completely like before and also did pull-ups. In the beginning, it was a little weird, I went increasing from one pull-up, two pull-s, three pull-ups until I got the eight reps, and did fifteen sets of eight reps.I did bench with the bar only, until I got ten lbs each side. I am feeling good, but I am not going heavier in bench until next month.Tell me how you feel and what have you achieved already. Remember only Jesus of Nazareth has power of healing and full recovery, the Lord bless you, with all blessed from above. Hope to hear from you soon. Federico, your friend.

Hello all esp. Federico,Whilsterdog,I've read every post here our injuries are very similar. However my surgery was delayed over 3 months so and muscle shrunk so he cut a v and attached ends together then a hole in the bone.Had donor tendon(cadavor)on hand but did not use.Tomm will be 4 weeks post surgery ,it feels good no pain. In therapy twice a week I can move from 0 deg. to about 90deg. then I feel pulling,they will increase 10-15 deg. a week.Because of v ext. doc is very cautious and dosen't want any tricep use until its fully healed.I've been reluctantly using it lightly everyday without ill effect just in dressing,washing,chores.I believe I'll get back to training soon enough,going to start with lower body when arm is stronger ,dont want to tear anything.I'm praying for you guys, yes only Jesus can heal you to fully recover.I thank and praise God its going well. Thank you Whistlerdog and Federico for your posts they are comforting and encouraging, God Bless you and heal you Stephen

Hi Stephen,

This is Federico, I hope the Lord is healing you fast. I recommend you Amino Acids, which i know they are good for injuries. Don't use your tricep at all until you have at least two months after the surgery, then after two month start with one, two or three lbs, like I did. So far I am already benching the Olympic bar with a 25lbs in each side, I know I can bench more & more, but I have to wait until the three month to add more weigh, because I only have, two month and one week after surgery.I've been also doing skull crushes (french tricep)with only the (Z-Bar) and I feel, everything coming back everyday. Truthfully I trust the Lord in a real way, that he is my healer, and the healer of all that believe in him, I already prayed for you once, I will continue, but trust totally in Jesus of Nazareth. Your friend, Federico.

Hey guys and especially Federico and Bacchie, I had my last PT session and last Dr. visit last week (April 29)and have been released to do whatever I can tolerate. I still lack a few degrees of active extension but working on it. I can do some push ups and have been directly training the injured tricep. I am now approx 11 weeks post surgery. Sounds like you are ahead of me on your rehab Federico - Great work! From talking to my physical therapist, the amount of time it takes to recover varies based on exactly where the tendon ruptures, e.g. did it tear from its attachment to the olecranon or did it tear the muscle body, the extent of the tear (complete or partial) and the length of time between tear and repair (the shorter time the better). My Dr. advised that he much prefers the tear at the attachment because it heals faster and stronger than a muscle / tendon tear. In any event, I am doing well getting progressively stronger. Hope you guys do great with your rehab and work hard. God Bless. Your friend in Christ.

Stephen, Because of the time lapse between injury and repair, your tri tendon will be very tight and will probably take longer to stretch back - but it will definitely return to normal with regular stretching. Also be sure and massage the incision scar every day - fighting the build up of scar tissue that wants to develop over and around the joint is very important and I think helped me alot. Wanted to say something about supplements - I take a multivitamin, fish oil, L-Arginine, whey protein, zinc, magnesium & Vitamin D supplement every day and eat a lot of egg whites as well. BCAAs are also a great idea. All the best... Roland

Hello all,Federico and Roland thank-you for the info and encouragement. Today is 5 weeks from surgery. Im taking multis,omega 3s,gluco/msm 3000mg,aminos, vitamin D and plenty of sun.Tricep was tight but is streching out very well i have approx. 105 deg. of flex before i feel pulling.Scar is doing well ,rubbing it whenever i can,the lump in the tricep is gone but i still have swelling on the elbow. Therapist said to ice it every day. I dont have full ext. yet because of swelling but the the muscle feels good,no pain. I believe God for a full healing,I will do my part but Jesus will heal, Praise God. Thanks for your prayers i am also praying for you my brothers. I will keep in touch.God Bless your friend , Stephen

bacchie
Our stories are similar. I am 45 and I have been lifting since my teens as well. I torn my tricep back in March. I had surgery on Mya 6th about 18 days ago. I was in a splint for 14 days. Now I have a sling and a compression bandage. Doc told me my heavy lifting days were over. I will doing stretching for another couple of weeks then start rehab. I also have tendonitis in my right elbow. I have done any upper body work in two months! I havent worked out at all and its killing! I do plan to get back at it today with aerobics and legs and just do what I can to rehab. This is a tough one!

I'm 61 years old, on heavy bench press day, at the gym, Feb 22, 2011, after raw warm-ups, did 2-board bench...went 545 pounds to set my single-ply shirt (only use bench shirt every 4 weeks), then did 1-rep easy opener at 635, did 2nd attempt with 665 (PR) locked out completely, then went for 685. I locked out the left arm but was just short of lockout with right arm, that's when I felt something near the tip of my right elbow, so I took off my shirt and finished with the usual workout doing triceps, bent over rows, heavy srugs, and then abs. Went home iced down both shoulders and elbows as normal after every heavy bench. The next week on heavy bench day (raw) I couldn't do my normal workout, was only able to go 3 sets of 3-reps each with 405 because my right triceps where it attaches to my elbow was sore, so I went home and iced down the right elbow. The following week I felt good and thought my right elbow was okay, that was a big mistake. On my second set with 425 (raw) on my 3rd rep the right tricepts tendon completely tore away taking bone (ulna bone) with it, so the tendon did not tear it was the bone that fractured, that was on March 8, 2011. I have always pushed through pain but this time was one to many times.

Had surgery on Mar 11th, re-attached tendon to the base of my ulna at elbow using screws and some kind of very strong cord. Was told the bone that broke off was a large bone spur that had developed because of my age and the number of years that I have lifted weights, 45 years, ever since I was 16 years old. Was placed in a straight out hard cast, which was removed today, Mar 24th, to have my staples removed. Was put back into another straight hard cast for 2 more weeks, then I will be put in a removable hinged brace. Was told I would start therapy at 20 degree bend for a week, then up to 45 degree bend the next week, then 90 degree motion with light weight and up to full elbow movement in 2 months. They say because of my age they must go slow with me, but I know my rehab will go faster than they think it will. The doctor said I will never bench heavy again but said I can start lifting upper body light in about 4 months...she thinks I should be at maybe 50% in 9 months. Time will tell. Maybe in a month or so I will check back in to give an update.

In Oct.'10 I fell off a ladder and landed with my arm straight out, left hand landing first..My face hit a piece of driftwood on the deck and I broke my nose but most of weight was on my outstreched arm. Since my nose was on the side of my face and I was bleeding like crazy I didn't notice the pain in my elbow at first. It bruised really bad (along with half my damn body) but it wasn't until the third day that I noticed that I had really screwed up, I'm standing in front of the mirror trying to flex my arm and my tricep was just hanging there...Like an old lady's !! Now I'd had bursitus in the elbow for awhile so I was used to it hurting, I thought I'd just reinjured it..Well the next day I went to the doc's and he x-rayed it, results showed a small bone chip floating about mid tricep. The doc sent me to an Orthopedic surgeon, he ordered an MRI then told me the bad news. I'd broken off the tip of the elbow bone and the tricep attachment..I had it reattached 2 weeks later, same thing 3 screws thru my elbow, many sutures, anyway, 3months of cast then brace, then phys therapy for range of movement..After 18 weeks I was allowed to do light training. Now the whole time I was rehabbing I was doing one armed workouts, I've always liked dumbell presses and got my good arm back up to a 140 single arm press, no easy balancing feat..Anyway the first time I tried a press with my bad arm I swear I couldn't do 3 1/2 lbs, scared the piss outta me..Well I went back 4 days a week working my good arm out and slowly moving up with the bad one, well here it is 25 plus weeks later and I can put the 70 up three times, shaky but I can do it..I work up slowly starting with the 20 then 40 then 55 all for 10 plus reps. I concentrate on the lockout because that's where it hurts and I'm the weakest, I also have been doing one armed tricep extensions and it's slowly working there as well...Sloooow process, hurts like hell at times and you do not want to bump the elbow hard on anything but dammit I'll get it back..By the way, I'm 53 yrs old, been working out since 18...Can't stop now, I'd fall apart...By the way, I'm 50 percent on most lifts with the bad arm, some even better than that...