Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

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static_jacket
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Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by static_jacket »

Hey guys. I have been having an issue with shoulder lately, and from the research I've done it is likely an impingement. The test that seems to prove that is as follows: With right arm extended completely straight out, I put fingertips from that hand on left shoulder and lift elbow straight up. As I lift, the pain becomes intense and I am inclined to stop before reaching head.

When I do the same motion with other arm I don't have any issues. I'm assuming it has to do with improper form doing perhaps one or both bench press and shoulder press. For shoulder press always sit on a seat and lift dumbells over head and back down until elbows are level with shoulders and no further (I thought this was good form, but maybe not). I'm worried with this injury, besides the obvious financial worry I have if this is a serious injury, that I will loose progress in the gym.

Have any of you had impingement issues from lifting, if so what did you do to remedy the situation? Also what kind of doctor should I see, because clinic doctors always seem to know just a little bit about everything, but end up having to go to specialists for anything but a cold or flu, wasting time and money. I'm worried that going straight to a sports doctor is going to be very costly.
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Boss Man
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by Boss Man »

I have never had anything like that personally, but if your shoulder presses are going straight down to parallel, then that shouldn't be a problem, unless the form aggravates a pre-existing concern; but it shouldn't cause it, unless too much weight was used, or there was an issue moving the weight upwards from parallel and not paying attention to form, or the lift off from static was executed below par and possibly with a bit too much weight.

There would be a sensible way of looking at it, which would be to see someone of GP type status, then get a referral to a specific individual, who is responsible and more knowledgeable about the concern you have.

The test you did might have indicated the problem, but don't hold complete store in it, as a diagnostic tool because otherwise you might jump to conclusions, but if you do see an entry level medic, versus going straight to a specialist, then I'd mention the self diagnostic and even demonstrate it, just in case describing it initially bamboozles the individual, not because any description would expose the medic as incompetent and unable to understand, but because the description could be expressed in a way that would be a little difficult to work out.
static_jacket
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by static_jacket »

Boss Man wrote:I have never had anything like that personally, but if your shoulder presses are going straight down to parallel, then that shouldn't be a problem, unless the form aggravates a pre-existing concern; but it shouldn't cause it, unless too much weight was used, or there was an issue moving the weight upwards from parallel and not paying attention to form, or the lift off from static was executed below par and possibly with a bit too much weight.

There would be a sensible way of looking at it, which would be to see someone of GP type status, then get a referral to a specific individual, who is responsible and more knowledgeable about the concern you have.

The test you did might have indicated the problem, but don't hold complete store in it, as a diagnostic tool because otherwise you might jump to conclusions, but if you do see an entry level medic, versus going straight to a specialist, then I'd mention the self diagnostic and even demonstrate it, just in case describing it initially bamboozles the individual, not because any description would expose the medic as incompetent and unable to understand, but because the description could be expressed in a way that would be a little difficult to work out.
Sorry, I didn't get an e mail notification for a reply. I took a week off from lifting and cardio and started sleeping on back when I can help it and doing shoulder stretches and it seems to be helping. I started working out again this week and lowered shoulder press weight and have been more careful with form, also reduced reps.
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Boss Man
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by Boss Man »

Looks like you're managing to alleviate the problem then.
JuliaHaleFitness
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by JuliaHaleFitness »

A lot of the time it's not necessarily an issue of not enough strength, but rather an issue of strength or flexibility imbalance. Most people (not necessarily you, but most), focus more on the big muscle groups and less on the stabilizers (i.e. rhomboids, traps). This often leads to imbalance and then finally to pain. Also, not sure if you have a desk job or not but that often leads to a sort of rounded posture...which will make your chest muscles tighter and cause the muscle in your shoulder area to lengthen...both of which reduce full muscle function.

You can do stretching tests to test flexibility in your lats, rhomboids and traps. Then use really light weights and a full range of motion (as full as you can - your range of motion will increase) to increase flexibility.
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Boss Man
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by Boss Man »

Using really light weights on such muscles, would be fine initially with small frequent 1-2 week increases in the amount(s) used, if the person was doing to nothing to target those muscles, but obviously going heavier with the aforementioned frequent increases would be advisable.
jvcalia2
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by jvcalia2 »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKc6hwPvsHg

I had a very similar issue; I couldn't lift arm to even the point of being parallel to the ground. This video gives some good advice on recognizing if you have a shoulder mobility issue, and what stretches/workouts depending on whether your shoulder muscles are too tight or if certain muscles within the shoulder need more training. I've incorporated his band work into lifts and felt that it's helped a lot.
AnthonyDee
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Re: Shoulder Impingement, need some advice please.

Post by AnthonyDee »

1. If it hurts, don't do it.
2. If it continues to hurt after a week of rest, see a professional (orthopedist or physiotherapist)
3. Be proactive - give this a read: http://muscleevo.net/save-your-shoulders/
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