For the physio sleuths.

[tonester]

Would someone please decipher these problems in terms of what is tight or what needs stretching. I keep losing on the connect the dots aspect of this stuff.

I am prone to impingement if I forget to make an effort of bringing my ribcage up and scaps back. Most exercises are smoother and painless when using this caution. I have slight kyphosis.

- I feel very tight when doing the scapular wall slides. Feet about 12 from wall-lower back-upper back-head agaisnt the wall. Getting my arms flat against the wall is always initially hard then loosens in seconds, then sliding my arms upwards is very tight for the first rep or two then gradually loosens up.

- When I stand up straight with shoulders in good postural position, I have cleavage between my scaps that I swear could hold a piece of paper!

- There is potential strain when holding a straight bar with supinated hands. My forearms feel as if they don't want to rotate easily to this position. When standing with my elbows tucked by my side, arms straight and palms facing full forward there is a good 15 inches distance from pinky to thigh. Prolonged use of barbell curls are an injury waiting to happen : ) Thank goodness for multi-angled chin up/pull up equipment, dumbbells and bodyweight exercises.

Speaking of bodyweight, I recently used hex dumbbells for push up variations and found a huge reduction in strain to my shoulders. I was suddenly doing more reps with less strain! Solid; no compensations. Does the fact that the bars are 3 inches off the floor make that much of a difference? Or is it the mechanics of an open hand versus a fisted hand. I also feel better when doing finger push ups.

I realize this is a bit convoluted but any input, theories or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I should also mention that I am a food service person (corporate functions, very fancy schmancy). Which means I do a lot of reaching out with my right to lift lots of stuff off tables, and using my left to hold said stuff. For those of you in the physical therapy field, more and more restaurants have med coverage for their employees. And trust me when I say these employees have need of your services. They just aren't educated : ) on their options. Good market here.

Thanks.