Shoulder Stretch Imbalance

[George Grigoryan]

I performed the shoulder stretch as pictured here: http://www.centenaryarchers.gil.com....er-stretch.gif

I can interlock fingers when the right arm is in the 'above shoulder' position and the left are in the 'below shoulder' position. When the arms are reversed I cannot even come close. The issue is the right arm in the 'below shoulder' position feels extremely stiff and wont meet the left arm. The left arm in the 'above shoulder' position is fine.

How can I correct this imbalance. I cannot think of anthing other than to force the right arm into approporiate position little by little.

I have also been experiencing neck pain and perhaps the two are related.

I own MM and Inside Out and have been practicing the exercises for a good 8 weeks now and it took care of every issue except this one.

[UConnJulie]

Are you right handed? It is common for the dominant shoulder to be "tighter" in this movement ...

Try the towel stretch ... http://www.communityrunning.org/reso...tretching.html

Third exercise from the end ...

[John Izzo]

Originally Posted by gx3

I performed the shoulder stretch as pictured here: http://www.centenaryarchers.gil.com....er-stretch.gif

I can interlock fingers when the right arm is in the 'above shoulder' position and the left are in the 'below shoulder' position. When the arms are reversed I cannot even come close. The issue is the right arm in the 'below shoulder' position feels extremely stiff and wont meet the left arm. The left arm in the 'above shoulder' position is fine.

How can I correct this imbalance. I cannot think of anthing other than to force the right arm into approporiate position little by little.

I have also been experiencing neck pain and perhaps the two are related.

I own MM and Inside Out and have been practicing the exercises for a good 8 weeks now and it took care of every issue except this one.

I actually don't ike that test/stretch. I used to use it as an assessment for shoulder flexibility, but I was noticing alot of my clients complaining of "pinching" adn exhibiting too much lumbar extension. The towel stretch is far more superior and safer for the shoulder capsule. Just my 2 cents..

[George Grigoryan]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Are you right handed? It is common for the dominant shoulder to be "tighter" in this movement ...

Try the towel stretch ... http://www.communityrunning.org/reso...tretching.html

Third exercise from the end ...

Thanks, I'll try that. Should I aim to get my right arm into the same position as my left arm is capable of achieving?

I am right handed btw.

[George Grigoryan]

Originally Posted by John Izzo

I actually don't ike that test/stretch. I used to use it as an assessment for shoulder flexibility, but I was noticing alot of my clients complaining of "pinching" adn exhibiting too much lumbar extension. The towel stretch is far more superior and safer for the shoulder capsule. Just my 2 cents..

Yeah! That's exactly what I feel in the rigfht shoulder - a bit of 'pinching'. The left shoulder is nice and smooth though. Are you saying to just leave it alone?

[John Izzo]

Originally Posted by gx3

Yeah! That's exactly what I feel in the rigfht shoulder - a bit of 'pinching'. The left shoulder is nice and smooth though. Are you saying to just leave it alone?

yes...leave that stretch alone. It is predominately used an assessment.

[Chaney Weiner]

Originally Posted by John Izzo

I actually don't ike that test/stretch. I used to use it as an assessment for shoulder flexibility, but I was noticing alot of my clients complaining of "pinching" adn exhibiting too much lumbar extension. The towel stretch is far more superior and safer for the shoulder capsule. Just my 2 cents..

I agree. In all due honesty I see no real benefit in doing that stretch or ones similar. I would prefer and use mostly closed chain shoulder exercises because ultimately they are much better for the shoulder.

[K-Court]

Could you give some examples, Chaney? Thanks.

[Chaney Weiner]

Originally Posted by K-Court

Could you give some examples, Chaney? Thanks.

I like to use a T Stabilization roll. The only open chain type movement I would use and do use is a simple arm rotation. I sit down and while hanging my arm down just rotate to each side.

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by gx3

I performed the shoulder stretch as pictured here: http://www.centenaryarchers.gil.com....er-stretch.gif

I can interlock fingers when the right arm is in the 'above shoulder' position and the left are in the 'below shoulder' position. When the arms are reversed I cannot even come close. The issue is the right arm in the 'below shoulder' position feels extremely stiff and wont meet the left arm. The left arm in the 'above shoulder' position is fine.

How can I correct this imbalance. I cannot think of anthing other than to force the right arm into approporiate position little by little.

I have also been experiencing neck pain and perhaps the two are related.

I own MM and Inside Out and have been practicing the exercises for a good 8 weeks now and it took care of every issue except this one.

Keep up the the practices outlined in I/O. Add more soft tissue work for your upper back (thoracic extensibility and scapular mobility) and neck. Strengthening of your external rotators might help. ART for that area could help, too.

The "stretch" you did is a test, not a movement to continue using. Julie pointed out that tightness in the dominant side is common, but that does not make it desirable. Keep working on it.