Pushup pluses aggravate thoracic spine?

[kinney1]

I was wondering if pushup pluses aggravate anyone elses thoracic spine area, and if they found a way to improve their situation? I am trying to work my serratus anterior, but the "plus" seems to always aggravate my upper back and scapula on my left side all the way to base of neck on the left side. I am doing face pulls fine, but I just can't seem to do the pluses without injuring myself. (By the way I have a chronic impingement problem on the right shoulder - that has greatly improved largely due to info from this website)

Should I avoid the pluses and stick with lots of foam rolling and mobility exercises for this area?

Thanks in advance, this board has been very helpful over the years!

[UConnJulie]

I think I've asked you this before, but how's your neck? What you are describing is commonly seen in folks with neck issues ... do you have any radicular pain (pain from your neck that travels down your arm?)

[kinney1]

You did ask me about this before, and I think you may of diagnosed it better over the internet then the PT I am seeing. (Although I should add that I do like the PT that I have seen). You suggested that their could be a neck issue, which I now believe to be very true. I went to PT again, and they did some ART on my levator scap, rhomboids, and traps....To specifically answer your question - I do not have any pain running down to my arm. I have pain that runs from my neck down to my scapula on the left side. Ironically enough, my right shoulder is feeling much better. I just can't figue how to improve my upper back/neck situation. I guess I should stay away from "pluses". I could spend more time doing static stretches for the trap and levator scap? Any corrective exercise suggestions? As always, thanks for your time.

[kinney1]

Bump....

[UConnJulie]

Sorry I missed this before somehow ...
What you describe sounds like a facet joint dysfunction to me ... it needs manual treatment. Preferably someone well versed in Maitland treatment ... where in New Jersey are you?

[kinney1]

I live in northeast New Jersey (Bergen County)....Any suggestions...

[Bill Hartman]

Make sure that all the movement is the scapula and that you are not flexing the thoracic spine as you "plus" and the head and spine remain in neutral.

To reduce the load, do the "plus" only from your hands and knees and see if that's not more comfortable. If it is, it's not the "plus", it's the load...in other words, you're not strong enough to do a plus effectively (assuming correct technique). You'll need to progress to doing them on an incline and then progressively working toward the floor. If it's still painful get it looked at.

I'm also wondering if your posterior shoulder is too stiff and pulls the scapula too far from the spine in the plus position. This will pull on your neck and over stretch your rhomboids. You can tell if you stand with hands on hips and affected side scapula rests further from the spine.

Bill

[UConnJulie]

Not sure if any of these are near you ... you must be near the city right? Check out this website http://www.ozpt.com/clsites.htm as these folks would likely be able to help you in one or two visits ... two are in the city and one on the island ... here are some other certified persons and their locations ...

Damon Daura West Paterson, NJ PerformanceRehab@verizon.net
Matthew Loughlin Chatham, NJ mloughlin@msipt.com
Alisa Murray Chatham, NJ
Andrew Overman Princeton, NJ
Lawrence Ramiscal Burlington, NJ l.ramiscal@cosphysicaltherapy. com

[kinney1]

Thanks for the info Julie!......Bill, my posterior shoulder is extra tight on the left side still. The pushup pluses seem to aggravate the thoracic spine area (left scapula up to my neck) predominantly on the left side. So maybe it is mostly a flexibility issue. Is I/O the best way to improve the flexibility here, or should I add some traditional static stretches?