Shoulder pain

tracyface399
tracyface399 Posts: 83 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi There!

I just started having some shoulder pain that I think was from doing some shoulder exercises on Saturday morning. I went to the gym on Sunday and did the arc trainer only and no weights and had an "off gym day" yesterday. I have the gym later today but my shoulder is really bothering me. I know that I should probably just wait a few more days to see if subsides before going to the gym, but I am scared that if I miss the gym just once that it will ruin my morivation for going? If that makes sense.

I was thinking of just doing the sitting bike? But is that really going to do anything for me? I feel that the arc trainer/elliptical or treadmill would really bother my shoulder, otherwise I would just do that.

So, just looking for any advice from anyone that may have had some pains but still kept going!

Thanks!

Replies

  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    I think that if you must go, the recumbent bike is a great idea. I would also go to the doctor to see about your shoulder.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    What excercises were you doing specifically when it started hurting?
    And where in your shoulder does it hurt? Front/back? Inside shoulder.
    Only when pressing? Or is it during rotation?

    There's a load of different shoulder problems and it really depends on when it hurts.


    As far as it still hurting, if its more than mild discomfort, work some other muscles and let it rest. I made the mistake of training through the pain and ended up in physical therapy for a month and wasn't able to bench for 6 weeks. Its much easier to take a couple days off.

    First guess would be shoulder impingement. Do you do a lot of upper back work? If you're doing pressing work every week but not doing any pulling work for your back, theres a pretty good chance that a muscular imbalance is causing your shoulder pain.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    It is not a good idea to work hurt muscles.

    Just go and do something else. I don't know what you mean by "is the bike going to do anything for me"...yeah, if it gets your heart rate up, it's doing something.
  • ChadWGreen
    ChadWGreen Posts: 12 Member
    Give it a rest and take an anti-inflammatory like Motrin. You may also want to ice it. If the pain persists don’t hesitate to see your doctor.

    I am in the same boat. Thursday I go in to have a torn rotator cuff repaired. It will be the stationary bike and treadmill for six weeks minimum.

    The stationary bike is not a bad workout especially if you do intervals.

    Good Luck
  • paulyarwooduk
    paulyarwooduk Posts: 109
    I can only repeat what everyone here has already said. You could try swimming maybe?
  • tracyface399
    tracyface399 Posts: 83 Member
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!
  • icemaiden17_uk
    icemaiden17_uk Posts: 463 Member
    I often get problems with my shoulder but I find working it helps! Not really helpful for you I guess!

    But the recumbant bike is great! I use it as a cool down and I find it to be a really good workout! I set it to about level 6 on random and keep my speed up and it is great! If you are up to it you can use wrist weights and do some arm and shoulder excersises as well once you have recovered!

    Enjoy!!

    P.S. I should add that I have been using it for a while so you may wat to start with it a little lower and easier!
  • icemaiden17_uk
    icemaiden17_uk Posts: 463 Member
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!

    That is the same feeling I get! How are you warming up your shoulders and cooling them down after a workout? You may not be stretching enough! I really need to stretch out or I get injuries. I do two shoulder stretches before I workout and I roll my shoulders and arms both forwards and backwards and then I do the same two stretches after I workout. Maybe this will help! It can't hurt to try! :)
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!

    Deltoid Fly Machine? So you were working your rear deltoids when you hurt yourself? And your front deltoid hurts? Just trying to understand exactly what's going on.
  • tracyface399
    tracyface399 Posts: 83 Member
    You're probably right! I def don't stretch enough! I do after but not before, which I have no idea what I didn't think of it! Thanks for the info!
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!

    That is the same feeling I get! How are you warming up your shoulders and cooling them down after a workout? You may not be stretching enough! I really need to stretch out or I get injuries. I do two shoulder stretches before I workout and I roll my shoulders and arms both forwards and backwards and then I do the same two stretches after I workout. Maybe this will help! It can't hurt to try! :)
  • tracyface399
    tracyface399 Posts: 83 Member
    Hi!
    No, I don't think it's my front deltoid that hurts, it's actually inside my shoulder. It doesn't feel like it's a muscle. I am almost leaning towards that it might be a pinched nerve in my shoulder.
    But of course I am not a doctor, I am just guessing on how it feels.
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!

    Deltoid Fly Machine? So you were working your rear deltoids when you hurt yourself? And your front deltoid hurts? Just trying to understand exactly what's going on.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Hi!
    No, I don't think it's my front deltoid that hurts, it's actually inside my shoulder. It doesn't feel like it's a muscle. I am almost leaning towards that it might be a pinched nerve in my shoulder.
    But of course I am not a doctor, I am just guessing on how it feels.
    I think it started when I was doing the Deltoid Fly machine? From what I can remember. It definitely didn't hurt so bad though, it seems to be getting worse even when I am not doing anything.

    It's more inside the shoulder, it has that weird feeling like it wants to be cracked? (obviously I am not going to try to do!!) If anyone knows what I am talking about!

    Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it! I am going to plan on doing the bike, and if it doesn't start to feel any better while resting I will absolutely go see my doc!

    Deltoid Fly Machine? So you were working your rear deltoids when you hurt yourself? And your front deltoid hurts? Just trying to understand exactly what's going on.

    Yeah, I know that pain. And you primarily get it from doing Flyes? Have you checked your setup because flyes are a pectoral exercise and not so much the front deltoids. I'm just making this assumption because you called it a Deltoid machine instead of Pectoral. If you don't adjust the seat so the stimulus is placed more on your chest than your shoulder you could be causing impingement. I would layoff that exercise for a while. Also, if you do any chest / bench press try using a wider grip to reduce the stress on your shoulder. If you can get a hold of some kind of rubber band, many gyms have them or if you do Pilates they're common, you can use the rubber band to help exercise your lateral and rear deltoids and it will help relieve some of the pain over time.

    1. Hold the band directly in ffront of you gripping near the middle so the band is taught. Keeping your arms straight simply pull it apart and squeeze the rear deltoids at the end. Do 100 of these a week.

    2. Wrap the band around something solid while gripping each side do a a rowing movement with your palms down. When you have the band stretch back, holding that position wiht your arms pull the band up and back.

    3. Hold the band at your waist and some what wide pull it apart and then move it up and over your head as far back as you can go, back to starting position, rinse and repeat.

    These will help ease some of the pain and are a good way to warm-up your shoulders prior to lifting.

    Good article to read on traditional stretching,
    http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/59-the-stretching-roundtable-1.html

    Also, you can YouTube a video called the Shoulder Tornado (I think that's what it's called) that demo's some of what I discussed.

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