Weight Training & Shoulder pain (Rotator cuff)?

[HEMI®Dart]

I have been weight training for 1½ years. Recently I have started to get right (only) shoulder pain. It kind of "pops" & "clicks" for a few days after a good workout.



Last month or so I could do a BB behind the neck military press w/o any pain whatsoever.



Now if I try it a get a sharp pain in my right shoulder. I can work it out somewhat. In contrast if I do a miliary press in front, I get little to no pain.



The shoulder pain did'nt start until I started to "mix it up" using different machines at the gym to work the shoulders.



Any suggestions on how to fix this?

 

[BCook1]

No military presses.

Don't do any overhead presses behind the head no matter what anyone tells you. It took 9 months out of the gym for mine to heal - didn't know if it ever would. This is an unnatural position for most of us - don't do it. It causes damage.

 

[XcumminsX]

Stretch more, make sure your doing the exercise right (proper form). You can do military presses but you better not arch your back at all. What i do is throw a 45 plate and 25 plate on each side and do higher amounts of reps on a smith machine (machine that guides you) Obviously not to gain size. . i do it for definition..... make sure you do an exercise that will make your muscles work to balance your power output.



Nick

 

[moparguy]

Bill, at our age, (and I am older) we shouldn't do anything overhead. Sad I know, but check with a doc and see. Otherwise, stay active and enjoy the ability to get through a good workout.



RJR

 

[fkovalski]

HDart- Don't know if you caught this thread that I posted a short while ago: rotator cuff It might provide more info from some of the members here.



My pain is similar to yours (but on both shoulders) at an approximate 45 degree diagonal (front and side views) but I do not get any popping or clicking. It is just a VERY sharp pain in the joint when I hit that certain position. I kinda' thought as if it the very small muscles (forget the name) in the upper back/ shoulder that make up part of the RC as a whole. I believe that in my case that it is(was) a matter of a PT routine to bring those particular muscles into the same strength as the surrounding ones. I do not believe that to be true any more as the sharpness "seems" in the joint itself. I was doing a very short modified routine on the BowFlex: VERY low resistance but many reps in all angle of shoulder rotation. I had been doing this for months but it was not getting any better. Hence my post to ask opinions. I am curious to hear more input from more members as to your particulars in hopes that it might help me too. I go to the ortho doc tomorrow- will keep you posted. Sorry for the long reply. Good luck! -frank.

 

[ndurbin]

I had something simliar to what Dl5treez was explaining. I had a combination of 3 things. Small tear in the rotator cuff, bursitis, and loose tendons (they were stretched out and the joint was loose). Ice seemed to help with the pain and the pain was mainly on the front side of the shoulder. I had to have both shoulders done. Couple weeks on doing nothing and then 6 weeks of PT after each surgery. Good thing was the surgery was done with the tiny stuff so I only had three small H shaped scars on each shoulder.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Hemi... as already mentioned, no behind the head anything. Military press to the front, lat pulldowns to the front. Behind the head is murder on the shoulders. Get on a site like www.bodybuilding.com or www.getbig.com (stay off that other site we know about, too many dumb kids) and do a search for rotator cuff specific exercises. Lay off the heavy shoulder work and strengthen the cuff muscles. PM me if you want to discuss this more.

 

[TnLRacing]

I agree with what has already been said... Lat pull-downs, and Military press should not be done behind the neck. Although many years ago this was accepted form its is now know to cause shoulder injuries.

 

[XcumminsX]

Kids? LMAO. . I bet alot of "kids" will make anyone on this site look small. . A buddy of mine that is 19 benches over 400 lbs and has 19 inch arms cold. .



Site i recomend with alot of people that know there stuff is



MASSMONSTERZ. COM



Go there bodybuilding.com articles are mostly written by newbies that only know facts. . Register at Mass Monsterz and they will help you out... I know one of there very knowledgable members are on this site to. .



Nick

 

[Jeff Clark]

Yes "kids". Too many people on those sites have no idea what the heck they are talking about. I'm five weeks away from graduating with a BS in General Health (covering anatomy/physiology, nutrition, disease, drug use, etc. ) I am also working on certification for Personal Training and Nutrition. I like to think I know what I'm talking about. If you want to argue about it, take it to PM where it belongs.

 

[XcumminsX]

Jeff... doesnt have to be taken to pm's. Check out Massmonsterz and you will see there arent many kids around. . Many actual bodybuilders, and many very close and could compete.



Nick

 

[Spooled-up]

Have any of you tried "Arnold Presses"? I was surprised how good these were. You start off with dumbells in the position where you finish a curl. You slowly raise them straight up as you twist them to palms forward over your head. These were more comfortable for me when doing shoulder work and provided a good variation.

 

[SGibson]

as someone who has repped over 400 benching and behind the neck pressed 295 for 6 reps and did pull-ups to the traps w/dumbells hanging off of me at a bdywt of 230 and every thing else some other fool was doing in a magazine I can tell you these guys are dead right. Behind the neck anything is murder to your joints, and when your done stretching&warming up, do it some more, keep your muscles warm after a workout also take time cooling off, I was too ignorant to listen, what a mistake that was,now I work out smarter not harder, but the pain never fully goes away, it's at best, on the edge waiting for me to get stupid again. Unless your on dope&competing alot of those movements are reduntant, I never did dope but I feel like one everytime my neck stiffens up for "no reason".

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I would like to thank everybody the answered in the thread. You guys are the best.



The Weightlifting/Bodybuilding knowledge of the TDR members is as good as the best Bulletin boards devoted to the sport!



Dl5treez,

I get no pain trying what you said to do. I think that's good.





Today my right shoulder is starting to click along with the left.



Gonna put overhead and behind the neck work on the back burner.



Thanks again

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by fkovalski

I go to the ortho doc tomorrow- will keep you posted

Well, I had the MRI procedure completed, as well as the follow- up consult with the ortho doc. Results follow (as deciphered from the medical mumbo- jumbo of the report):

-R- shoulder…. Type II “SLAP” lesion of the suprascapular notch and a tear of the superior labrum (the bicep tendon as related to me)

-L- shoulder…. 10x10 mm full thickness tear of the rotator cuff.



The doc is recommending surgery as (as he states) “it will only get worst- it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but a matter of ‘when. ’”

I seriously thought that he would suggest a prescribed PT work- up and regular session routines. I did not expect this news.

I will be getting a second opinion on this matter.

Originally posted by HEMI®Dart

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Hemi Dart- As to your original question: Ya' might want to start with an MRI if things do not progress with your situation.