Shoulder instability and pain

[pjb923]

I few months ago I had some shoulder pain during heavy barbell shoulder pressing. I have been doing some rotator cuff exercises and have been using very strict form on any pressing movements. My shoulder has not bothered me in a while until yesterday when trying to do overhead triceps extensions.

I can do them with 1 dumbbell in both hands with no problem. 1 arm at a time is a differerent story. I was doing a warmup set with 15lbs and finished the left arm with no problem. When I switched to the right is where the problems began. As soon as I put my right arm in position with even a small amount of weight on it I get pain throughout my shoulder and it becomes very unstable.

I have no problems with the exercises commonly associated with shoulder problems: dips, bench press, barbell shoulder press, pull-ups/downs, even behind the neck presses are ok. As long as it is a movement that uses both arms together I seem to be ok.

I will admit that I have been lazy with my rotator cuff exercises lately and maybe that is my problem. Does this sound like a rotator cuff issue?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bill Hartman]

Perhaps you've answered your own question, eh?

Any cuff symptoms would be the result of whatever is going on. It could be that you lack scapular control on the affected side, due to thoracic spine immobility or weakness, thus making it difficult for the cuff to do its job.

Bilateral exercises may not be painful because the unaffected side can make up for the weakness a bit. That's not to say that you're still not causing further problems just because you're not feeling the pain.

Get back on your cuff exercises and see if it helps. Avoid painful exercises. If it persists, get it checked.

Bill