Shoulder Injury and Upper Body Development

[Rodrigo]

Hi everybody.

I have a question that maybe you guys can offer me some insight into. About 4 years ago I suffered an anterior labrum lesion (not a tear) while playing racquetball due to an overhead motion. I went through some physiotherapy and all, which at the time did not help. I started using Bill Hartman's, Mike Robertson's and Eric Cressey's exercises to increase shoulder mobility before my workouts and felt a great improvement in stability and flexibility (although I feel there is still a long way to go). Well, long story short, I started doing the hypertrophy program from NROL last year and just finished the second phase. My weight went from 135 to 155lbs without too much fat gain. Problem is my upper body, specially my chest, has not developed nearly as much as my lower body. Could that be an effect of my shoulder and scapular instability ? Has anybody experienced something similar ? Suggestions on how to correct that ?

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

Rodrigo

[K Manley]

Can't help much in the advice realm, but I have huge scapular instability and corresponding lack of pec development. Put on a good 15 pounds last year and very little landed on the chest. I'll be as interested as you in any advice on this.

[theleip]

Just as a base question are you working that area less because of mental fear towards injury? Not saying you are but it is something to think about, very common. I see it a lot of under leg development with people who have had more severe knee and ankle injuries.

With a anterior labrum lesion the bicep muscle and function in recovery plays a huge role in the strength and stablity patterns for your shoulder and chest area because the strain to the bicep tendon attachment area. Are you finding your biceps to be underdeveloped as well? If so then I would look into do some solid compound work that kind of hits these areas. A thought would be..

Chin ups (assist if need and work on negatives)
Decline Chest Flys
and Dumbell Arnold Press

[Rodrigo]

Thanks for the reply. I am not aware of underworking the muscles in that area. If that is the case, it's subconscious and I am going to pay more attention to it tomorrow.

My right biceps is slightly smaller than the left one. I was already aware of that, and know that it is due to the lesion. I was not sure the lack of development in my chest was also due to the same shoulder problem.

-Rodrigo