Cartilage - Shoulder Pop Question

It's normal as you age, but not ideal. I have the same thing in both shoulders and was told that it's a rotator cuff joint problem. I was told to avoid doing things that make it pop as that means I have cartilage rubbing on bone and eventually it would wear the cartilage down or some such.

I have it as well. Could also be inflamed muscles. I have two gimpy shoulders, but found doing a lot of stretching and mobility exercises for shoulders has made all the difference. Not just before you are benching; commit 10-15 minutes 4-5 times a week. A good test (and exercise) of your mobility is standing heels, butt, shoulders against the wall, keeping your elbows, forearms and hands against the wall raise them from goal-post to "stick 'em up". Try to touch hands at the top. Do this a couple times a week with other stretches, and you hopefully will find the popping stops. Assuming it is caused by the same thing I have. When I started, i could barely get all these body parts to touch the wall, i still cannot touch at the top. But i don't pop anymore.

tldr: add stretching and mobility exercises 4-5 times a week

I get a shoulder pop too, but my chiropractor didn't say it was doing anything negative to my body and she felt it. Like one1fast68 said, if it hurts then stop.

If it doesn't hurt or have discomfort then you should be good. Try doing levator scapular and upper trap stretches... if you strengthen the muscles of your shoulder then the popping will (not go away) but will lessen.

No it isn't normal for your age at all.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say maybe you flare your elbows when you benchpress. The proper benchpress form is hands directly above shoulders and then drop the elbows along the body. Any other way is hell on your rotator cuff.

The hammer strength machine kind of forces you to do the lift correctly which hints the same.

My suggestion would be to avoid military press (can be done with proper form), lateral raises (can be done with proper form), and ESPECIALLY close grip upright rows (never do these) while you're at it.

kevinf2380 wrote: »

@JeffMatchett That may be it. Probably the reps when I don't feel it popping are the ones when my elbows aren't flaring.

@kevinf2380 It's something to look in to. I did it for years before I realized. Mark Rippetoe has an amazing video on YouTube all about bench press form. Check it out if you can. It's crazy how many exercises can hurt the rotator cuff. I try to be very careful now as my shoulders are all sorts of whack. Hope it helps.

I wouldn't worry much about the popping right now. It's usually nothing to worry about. But you should worry about your form if that's causing an underlying issue.

My shoulder does this too and has since I was 20 so not an age thing . I just kept adjusting my form and movement pattern till I found a way to bench that feels comfortable and effective and where it doesn't pop.