OldGoalie
02-06-2007, 03:40 PM
Just a note of caution to those of you who like to do behind-the-neck shoulder presses seated straight like I do (or did, anyway)
http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/DeltoidAnterior/DBShoulderPress.html
In the process of going up in weight and pushing myself since last summer in the shoulder press, I injured my shoulder, with my ortho suspecting a possible torn labrum. At the moment, it is not a serious one - I fortunately haven't lost any range of motion and the pain is tolerable - so I am pursuing the physical therapy route (strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular muscles), but I have learned a couple of valuable lessons in the process:
1) Behind-the-neck and deep press exercises (like dips) can be risky if done with too much weight and/or bad form. See this article from the Houston Texans trainer, who doesn't let his team do them at all:
http://www.houstontexans.com/fitness/news_detail.php?PRKey=1191
2) Ignore your rotator cuff muscles at your own peril. While they are not "show" muscles, they play a huge role in stabilizing your shoulder and arms in support of everything else you do, and are critical for moving up in other exercises without injury. I've also read that strengthening your rotators can actually help you break through lifting plateus as well.
Just thought I'd throw that out to the forum so that no one else has to go through an injury unnecessarily.
http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/DeltoidAnterior/DBShoulderPress.html
In the process of going up in weight and pushing myself since last summer in the shoulder press, I injured my shoulder, with my ortho suspecting a possible torn labrum. At the moment, it is not a serious one - I fortunately haven't lost any range of motion and the pain is tolerable - so I am pursuing the physical therapy route (strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular muscles), but I have learned a couple of valuable lessons in the process:
1) Behind-the-neck and deep press exercises (like dips) can be risky if done with too much weight and/or bad form. See this article from the Houston Texans trainer, who doesn't let his team do them at all:
http://www.houstontexans.com/fitness/news_detail.php?PRKey=1191
2) Ignore your rotator cuff muscles at your own peril. While they are not "show" muscles, they play a huge role in stabilizing your shoulder and arms in support of everything else you do, and are critical for moving up in other exercises without injury. I've also read that strengthening your rotators can actually help you break through lifting plateus as well.
Just thought I'd throw that out to the forum so that no one else has to go through an injury unnecessarily.