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Today as I was finishing up my workout at the gym, one of the trainers came up to me (the "Master" Trainer, I think he's actually pretty good) and asked me if I had shoulder problems. I haven't been aware of any, I'm not having any pain or anything, but he said that he sees that I'm favoring my left shoulder some when I'm doing my shoulder presses. He said I should have someone look at it.
So, now what, especially since I'm not noticing any pain or even discomfort? I haven't had any shoulder injuries in the past, although I've had back problems due to a couple of pretty bad horse wrecks, which is the only thing that I can think of that could affect it.
Hmmm...well, if you're not feeling any pain or discomfort, then it may just be a balance issue - perhaps, for some reason, one side has "developed" in a different way than the other (people often have a weaker leg or arm, b/c of other everyday activities that they do unconsciously, like picking up a backpack). When he said "favoring" what did he mean? It looked like you were weaker on that side? That you were caddywhompus (just had to use that word) and out of alignment? Do you find it difficult to lift the same amount of weight as you do with your other arm?
Next time you're doing it, try to watch yourself in the mirror (and, if possible, just observe without trying to correct anything or change what you normally do). Could have just been a fluke, or it could be related, certainly, to some earlier issue with your back.
He's probably seeing something in the "caddywhompus" way your shoulders are working. My husband says I walk with a slight limp- I don't notice it but then I don't watch myself walk either- I don't have leg pains but did suffer from shinsplints and plantar Fascititis in the past so its probably from that.
I have shoulder issues on the right side. Mine started as wrist pain worked up to elbow pain when I paid attention to my wrist then when I fixed the elbow issue its managed to go into shoulder.
If you have back problems I'd just about bet that is the cause of the shoulder imbalance.
I would ask him again exactly what he is seeing so that when you call a dr you can tell the dr what he said.
I'd say it sounds like a very concerned trainer kind of a breath of fresh air from other trainer stories I've heard!
Well, I did watch myself the last time I did shoulder presses and I can see what he means, I'm definitely weaker on one side. I do have a hunch though, that it's probably related to my old back stuff.
Megan, I'm so glad you asked this! I've noticed caddywompusness (hmm, never thought about modifying that word before, Yeeha) when I lift - for me it's squats, I favor the right side. I'm in exactly the same place you are in NROLFW, I start stage two Saturday. Could it also be a matter of being new to this kind of lifting?
Does anyone have good suggestions for how to strengthen one side to balance with the other? It seems like something worth experimenting with, it might eliminate the question of Megan's previous injury if the lopside improves with some focused strength training? Of course, if it's hurting, seeing a doc would be the first move.
In my case I don't have an injury, I think I just have more strength on one side of my body.
I think we all have more strength and will favor one side over another - how to fix it is a good question.
I sometimes notice more pain on one side after a workout than another and also I have a much easier time doing tricep kickbacks with the left arm even though I'm right handed.
It's why Eric Cressey, Michael Boyle and others are always on about doing dumbbell work in addition to your barbell training, to ensure that you're not letting one side 'cheat' and slack off while the other is doing all the work.
Do dumbbell training, lunges, stepups, one-legged squats, and one-arm lifting in general, and let the weaker side set the standard for your sets/reps, that way you'll retain strength on your dominant side while allowing your weaker side to catch up.
Your body doesn't like' strength or muscle imbalances and there's several mechanisms that get activated when you have them that ends up with strength/muscle development in the stronger limb stopping when it's out of line with the development of the other one.
Charles Poliquin likes throwing numbers about and he claims that you can at most be 17-18% stronger in one limb than the other before your body stops muscular developement in the stronger side - I think he frequently overstates the presicion of his measurements but even so it's nice to have a ballpark figure for it, neh?
That's very helpful! I just started the second stage in New Rules (I'll review it 
) and there are a lot of one-side-at-a-time exercises. I'll set my weight for the weakest side and see how that goes. I don't think the difference is extreme so it will be interesting to be looking at that specifically. This also sounds like a good rule for injury recovery (minor injury).
i've found unilateral exercises essential for upper body work. the discrepancy between my right and left sides is noticeable for things like dumbbell bench, shoulder press, one arm push press. i've been training for pullups and do a bunch every day now (not consecutively, but a couple at a time, many times per session). and i'm beginning to see that i need to include more unilateral upper body work that engages the lats, bec otherwise i'm ignoring the strength imbalance there. that can be dangerous when pushing for those last reps.
hmmm, guess i wont be so upset anymore that my gym doesn't have a barbell. when was on my heavy lifting phase i did a couple of extra reps for my weaker side, usually my left triceps. i had to do a couple of extra exercises for my inner quads above my knee as well.
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