Shoulder injuries who has it?

[ultimate]

It was said that shoulder is a small joint but everyone want their deltoids bigger, so press heavier. That is why shoulder joint injuries are so common. I used to feel that my shoulders are very tight a while ago, but not anymore, they seems to be injury-free. I like to recommend behind neck press to people and some trainers think it is a bad exercise that I shoulden't recommend it. So, who currently have shoulder injuries and do you think behind neck press is bad? Or do you think behind neck press is superior to front press. Let's discuss. ;D

[KelvinL]

I feel very uncomfortable when doing behind neck press. But I had shoulder injuries before, so maybe that's one thing. I currently only do front presses, and my shoulder grow fine.

[Oracle]

for those that suffer rotator cuff injuries like me, i went thru' several articles all over the net and these exercises are absolutely NO-NO; behind neck press, upright row, behind neck pulldown. Ever since my RC problem 1.5 years ago, i have ditched these exercises. Also might want to take care of dumbbell shoulder press. coz if u go heavy and u dont lower the weights down properly, u will aggravate the situation.

[ultimate]

Some books even recommend which I think is true, use a narrower grip on the bar for chin up, bench press and shoulder press which will be kinder to the shoulder joints. Some books recommend partial instead of going all the way for that stretch, this one I am not sure, cos my shoulders almost never give me problem. It was said that nearly ever champions have some kind of shoulder joint problem because they always shoulder press too heavy one time or another trying to get bigger delts. I personally believe behind neck chin can be more dangerous than behind neck press, who include this in their routine? To sum up I will agree shoulder is a relatively weak joint and be careful when you are training them. A problem shoulder will hinder your development cos you cannot do presses, and even row properly. ;D

Rotary cuff can be strengthened by certain exercise, who have tried those and please share your result. I gave up those exercises after 1-2 inclusion in my routine because I was too lazy as it make my routine too long.

[KelvinL]

I do external rotator exercises ocassionally. They are useful in strengthening the shoulder joint. My shoulder is pretty healthy now after doing lots of them during my rehab last year.

[Oracle]

for bbing style benchpress, usually the elbows are flared out to enable pec muscles to participate in the pushing motion. this also put stress on the RC and create a shearing force downward from the RC to the bench's side. As i read and do those powerlifting recommendation on benchpress technique; tuck in elbows and shoulder blades, these tips are mechanically sound and reduce the motion of RC while benching. but this will take out the stress on the pec which BBing want to build their pecs.

[doinker]

Had a slight tear on my rotator cuff in rugby. Been taking glucosamine for about 2 months now. Seems to be helping. I rested my shoulder and did very little excercises involving the joint.

At the moment, I can do everything except squats (shoulder hurts when I hold the bar in that position). Favourite shoulder excercises are dumbell presses.

[KelvinL]

oracle said:

for bbing style benchpress, usually the elbows are flared out to enable pec muscles to participate in the pushing motion. this also put stress on the RC and create a shearing force downward from the RC to the bench's side. As i read and do those powerlifting recommendation on benchpress technique; tuck in elbows and shoulder blades, these tips are mechanically sound and reduce the motion of RC while benching. but this will take out the stress on the pec which BBing want to build their pecs.

I do the bodybuilding style of benchpress, but I dont touch the chest, stop 3 to 4 inch above chest. So far no problems. *knocks on wood*

[lok3]

Use dumbells, complete development ;D

[ultimate]

lok3 said:

Use dumbells, complete development ;D

The most natural path. ;D But the taking off is a problem once you use really heavy weight.

[KelvinL]

Yeah I agree, once you let the dumbells drop on your body that's it. Very hard to get them up. I usually controll the dumbells so I can press of easily.

[lok3]

ultimate said:

lok3 said:

Use dumbells, complete development ;D

The most natural path. ;D But the taking off is a problem once you use really heavy weight.

Ask someone to help u get it up. Btw dbells are not as safe as it looks, i ur near failure chances of ur arm giving up and slamming the dbells on ur face is very high ;D

[ultimate]

lok3 said:

ultimate said:

The most natural path. ;D But the taking off is a problem once you use really heavy weight.

Ask someone to help u get it up. Btw dbells are not as safe as it looks, i ur near failure chances of ur arm giving up and slamming the dbells on ur face is very high ;D

Yeah, need 2 training partners to form a three buddies team. One to pass you a dumbell on each side. Try to ask Flex Wheeler and Rico if they are interested. ;D

[Everlast]

My 2 cents on BTN presses:

Why do so many hardcore bodybuilders kept doing the BTN press despite all the bad press of being a shoulder wrecker? Cos it works. Especially in isolating the medial delts - the part that give u wide shoulders. In any exercises for the side delts, ur form is very important. The correct method is to make sure ur that the tips of ur elbows are in line with ur side shoulders. If u tilt ur elbows to the front, ur front delts will take over the workload. That's why most of us are stronger in the military press cos quite often we are using our front delts when pressing upward. I feel that the front delts are the most overworked part of our shoulders cos we used them quite alot in bench presses.

BTN presses kept the elbows in check thus only using our side delts to press. The same principle is also the same reason why upright rows are effective side delts builder. Dumbell presses are good at isolating the side delts, provided that ur forearms are perpendicular to the floor and elbows in sync with ur shoulders.

Of course if u have any existing shoulder problems, it is best to avoid any type of overhead presses until u solve it.