Pull ups... Problem?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
Not really sure if this is the proper place or not, but I figure there has to be a decent contingent of you WSS guys who also are into fitness so I'll ask here...

For the past, I dunno long while, I've found that after doing my daily pull ups (2 sets, rep till failure- typically about 10 each) I get a massive, throbbing/pounding headache. Has anybody encountered this before? I figure its probably just from a large spike in BP during the pull ups since they use so many muscles but man, it just feels UNHEALTHY. Any tips? I'm a technique junky and although often the last few reps will be incomplete with an emphasis on the negative I am pretty observant about my respirations (up and out, down and in) as well as slow and proper form... FWIW I'm 25 do mild strength everyday to every other (push up/pull up/sit up) and either running or cycling 2-5 days a week depending on my schedule. BP typically between 120/x and 130/x with a resting pulse between 56-66 usually.
 
Even as a fat slob, I never had a reaction like that. I would strongly recommend a real doctor over an internet medical opinion.
 
Do you stretch & warmup before you start?

It could be a number of things,including your diet.
 
Last edited:
Its a breif work out, consists of 20 3-count sit ups, two sets of 20 push ups (with feet eleevated approx. 2 feet) and two sets of approx 10 pullups. Usually in that order without warm up. Its really just "the bare minimum" to do since I cant afford $ or time for the gym right now.
 
What is your breathing like? Are you holding your breath?? Esav is right though, I'd consult a doctor.
 
Buck, pull-ups make me happy. Seriously happy. If you get a headache doing this exercise of joy, you should consult a doctor. Could be nothing, could be serious.
 
Look up "sex headaches". They reccomend to take some ibuprofen or other otc painkiller 30 mins to an hour before working out. I got them for about 2 weeks while working out and then magically went away.
 
A myriad of causes could be the source of the headaches. A simple reason is overexertion. Try not completing the pull ups to exhaustion, or a less strenuous exercise, and see if the symptom resolves. The most sinister reason is bleeding in the brain.
 
My guess is that it is a vascular headache caused by too much warm blood going to the brain. Try having a cool/cold towel around your neck during/after the exertion to cool the blood before it goes to your head. That is what we are taught to do in massage therapy (a massage to loosen your neck may help free up myofascial restrictions or knots if it is a tension headache). Personally I would try these choices first before regularly taking drugs.

Let us know if anything works.
 
machine26 said:
Look up "sex headaches". They reccomend to take some ibuprofen or other otc painkiller 30 mins to an hour before working out. I got them for about 2 weeks while working out and then magically went away.
Click to expand...

I recommend against pain medications that could effectively mask a serious problem.

Talk to a doctor.
 
unit311 said:
What if you only do half a set? Do you still get the headache?
Click to expand...
I'd definitely start with this. Find out where the problem begins, and you're halfway to your answer.

Do one set of 10. Headache?

No? Stop. The next time you do it, do one set of ten and a second set of 2. Headache? No? Stop. Next time, do 10 + 5, and so on, until you feel the headache coming on.

If you pinpoint it--say 10 + 7, do your reps more slowly. It isn't just quantity that can get you, but speed.

Still get a headache? Switch to chin ups (reverse your hands). Do two sets of ten. Still get a headache? Chin ups tend not to stress the neck muscles--more on that later.

jp_over said:
How's your water intake?
Click to expand...
If it were dehydration, it wouldn't be a pounding headache, but a constant pain that would hit him at other points in his routine, not just pull ups.

Murdok72605 said:
What is your breathing like? Are you holding your breath??
Click to expand...
A very likely possibility. You're either holding your breath (VERY common in pull ups), or there's something in your form that's off: you might be curving your back to sneak out an extra inch or so that's pushing your diaphragm incorrectly. The pounding headache that eases with rest is quite often a rapid uptake in blood pressure. And since you're clearly not otherwise out of shape based on your description, I'm inclined to think it's because you're forcing your body to work on less oxygen exchange. If you give off a little "grrrkkrk" as you pull up, you're fighting your own oxygen intake. You need to focus on when you need to inhale and exhale, more so than any other exercise you do because of the pressure on the diaphragm.

1. If you get another one of these headaches, sit down or lean against a wall and breathe...but listen: do you hear a faint whooshing or rushing noise in your ears? Does it swell in volume with your heart beat? My hunch is you do. If so, your BP is spiking.

Given your normal BP and close proximity of your resting and work BPM, it wouldn't surprise me if you're actually doing too much at one time and your body can't quite get used to a rapid uptick in BP. Therefore, cut the number down or slow them for now. Or...

2. You are tensing your neck muscles to the point that you're basically choking off blood supply, which causes the brain to swell and the resulting pounding headache. This is one possible reason why you're not getting headaches from the other exercises you do. This, again, relates to your form. If you don't get headaches with chin ups, this is what I'd suspect. Or...

3. Migraine. The exertion of pulling yourself up could be inducing enough stress to trigger a migraine reaction. If your pounding headache is accompanied by eye pain, light sensitivity, and a headache that last a couple hours which make you want to just lay down in the dark, this could well be it. I get these a lot, and there's jack I can do about them except pop 2-3 Excedrin migraine tablets and take about two hours to lay in the dark. If you pretty much only get your headaches from pull-ups, and never get them on other non-exercise occasions, I'd rule this out.
 
My brother had a similar problem. It stopped after he took a break from working out. He was severly overtraining. The other common cause is not breathing properly. You should just try to breathe normally. In any case, it may be a good idea to consult a doctor. However, I do not think it is a concern as it is very common.
 
Again I will caution against using pain medication, even OTC stuff like Excedrin®.

No one here is qualified to give you information based on symptoms alone. The headache is a symptom of something.

While the advice may be correct, no one here has exact information or any way of knowing how you obtained your BP or heart rate.

There is simply not enough information even for "Doctor House"
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Even as a fat slob, I never had a reaction like that. I would strongly recommend a real doctor over an internet medical opinion.
Click to expand...

Yup.
I had something similar sounding when I was a little younger than you.
After initially diagnosing a cerebral hemorrhage and going through ridiculously extensive tests, the verdict came out as 'exercise induced migraines'. They went away after about 6 months, never to reappear. The military doctors suggested it was not rare.
At worst, it could be a cerebral hemorrhage though. Go see a doctor.
 
If you're working to failure, chances are you're holding your breath, aka the valsalva maneuver. This makes your blood pressure shoot through the roof. It may explain why you get the headache.
See a doctor!
Oh, and don't stretch before exercise unless we're talking dynamic stretches to get the synovial fluid moving
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I would strongly recommend a real doctor over an internet medical opinion.
Click to expand...

+1 ..........

You might be about to blow a gasket and die.

Unless you just don't care.... see a real medical professional.... a doctor.

Don't rely on an "internet diagnosis" for what possibly could be a life ending condition for you.

Good luck.......... :)
 
Are you puling the par behind your neck??? allot of guys do this. but it promtes injuries to the cervical spine that can caues numerous problems eve headaches...

Pulups are one of my favorite excercises... I however have several herniated disks in my back.. (2 in my neck) if I try to force more pullups by using momentum rather than muscle power (this sometimes happens when I;m tryinto squeeze the last reps in) it exacerbates my neck injury and gives me headaches that will make me vomit)

check your form.make sure you are doing it right, and consult a doctor, My 2 cents fwiw
 
As the others have said, speak to a Doctor. Don't jump into taking any meds, over the counter or even worse prescriptions borrowed from a friend, until you know the cause.
Your Doctor will probably do a Blood Pressure work up and possibly an Ultra Sound of your Carotids to check for stenosis. BE HONEST with your Doctor about all facets of your life, drinking, drugs, emotional status, diet even sleeping problems. A pounding headache after exertion could be very serious. Good Luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top