Artificial Shoulder

[bmorse]

I have an artificial shoulder (at age 37) and my range of motion is limited I cannot lift completely vertical, as in the shoulder press, though I can get within about 15 degrees or so. My question is, are there specific alternative exercises I can do with my injured shoulder, or should I just get as close as I can. Currently (BI 1) I am getting as close as I can, with 35 lb in my left hand and 10 in my right, but I am worried about creating too much of an imbalance in my body. Any help would be appreciated

[Mon]

I wouldn't worry about doing any shoulder presses until your shoulder heals completly if I were you. There are other exercises you can do in replacement. Shoulder Press requires healthy shoulders and good scapula movement (any overhead movement). Eric Cressey (very popular CSCS that a lot of us on this board are familar with and in the fitness industry) does not recommend overhead movements for shoulder injuries and overhead athletes.

do you see a physical therapist? Who gave you the shoulder press exercise to do? This is fishy if you were told to do shoulder presses to help with your injured shoulder.

[bmorse]

I am 2 1/2 years post op at this point, and as healed as I'm going to get. I have had limited range of motion since shattering the socket some 17 years ago. While I do have more range of motion now than I ever have, it will most likely always be limited.
I am working on the New Rules of Lifting program, trying to get back into shape.

Again, thanks for the help.

[LisaS]

caveat: I'm not a medical pro nor do I play one on TV.

If it was me with my shoulder, I would go as close as I can get to full ROM.
My general thoughts on imbalances are that most people recommend that a unilateral exercise be done weak side first when working one at a time and that you should load the weight evenly between sides - which means if weak handles 10# then use 10# on each side. Your strong side won't suffer and you'll bring the weak up together. At least that's what I've gathered from reading various things.

I'd also pull out any rehab or ROM or stretching that was given during PT and fire them up again and put them in the program for both sides.

Eventually you might be weight limited in that the shorter ROM might not be safe for heavy loads - I'm thinking if you can't do a proper military press for example where the end position is bar-over-ears then don't do a loaded press that stops short in front of you where you might extend your back or something. Maybe a seated slightly inclined press would accomodate you better when you get up to that point and limit standing presses to DBs where you can control your shoulder angle/hand orientation more precisely.
But I'm mainly spitballing and thinking outloud about what I'd probably try for myself.

[ninja]

Originally Posted by Mon

I wouldn't worry about doing any shoulder presses until your shoulder heals completly if I were you. There are other exercises you can do in replacement. Shoulder Press requires healthy shoulders and good scapula movement (any overhead movement). Eric Cressey (very popular CSCS that a lot of us on this board are familar with and in the fitness industry) does not recommend overhead movements for shoulder injuries and overhead athletes.

do you see a physical therapist? Who gave you the shoulder press exercise to do? This is fishy if you were told to do shoulder presses to help with your injured shoulder.

Do you think that he should throw a baseball?

[Mon]

Originally Posted by ninja

Do you think that he should throw a baseball?

his doctor has to answer that question, not me because his doctors have his MRI's and X Rays. I can only say what I know is that overhead exercises are hard on the shoulders and not recommended for those with injuries unless theres an ok by their doctor.

[bmorse]

I have been told that I can do whatever I feel comfortable doing. I cannot lift my arm straight above my head, but would a slight deviation from 90deg such as a incline press at close to sitting up straight target most of the same muscles? I am definitely weaker on the right side, but in many ranges of motion the difference is negligible. One arm rows for instance I am doing two sets of 15 @ 40lb. with both sides, it is just the pushing up high exercises that are a bit problematic. I am comfortable with what I can and can't do, it has been this way for most of my adult life, I am just looking for an exercise replacement that will target the same muscle groups. It does sound like I shouldn't keep working different weights on each side for this exercise though.

Thanks for all the replies.

[UConnJulie]

This thread is a bit disjointed ... I have the basic understanding of what you want, but could you please state which exercise you are trying to substitute? I am a PT and have worked with many persons with shoulder replacement ... just don't have time/inclination to wade through the muck ...

[bmorse]

I would like a substitution for the overhead press. Thank You.