When you have this condition, it is critical to avoid certain movements. When you create tension in your forearm muscles and tendons, you risk worsening the pain and swelling. Here are a few types of movements and exercises that you will want to avoid: Heavy Lifting: Avoid lifting anything, especially with a pronated grip (which means having your palms facing down). Forearm Workouts: Exercises like pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, and pull-downs are especially hard on your forearms so avoid them when you’re dealing with pain. Curl Arm Workouts: Workouts that require you to bend your elbow while holding a weight can make the swelling worse. This includes biceps curls and hammer curls as they both put too much stress on your already inflamed tendons.