Dips hurt the hell out of my clavicles

[FightingChance]

I like doing dips but I feel an intense pressure/ache in my clavicle area and shoulder when I do them. If I do 'cheater' dips, you know, like shallow ones, it's okay, but if I go to 90 degrees and push back up it really pings. I have enough strength to keep doing them but the ache and pain makes me stop. Particularly my left shoulder (I'm right handed/dominant).

Any advice? I have smaller shoulders and it's real hard to do overhead presses - do I just need to build up in that area? Or are my biomechanics such that I just can't do dips without injuring myself?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: FightingChance
I like doing dips but I feel an intense pressure/ache in my clavicle area and shoulder when I do them. If I do 'cheater' dips, you know, like shallow ones, it's okay, but if I go to 90 degrees and push back up it really pings. I have enough strength to keep doing them but the ache and pain makes me stop. Particularly my left shoulder (I'm right handed/dominant).

Any advice? I have smaller shoulders and it's real hard to do overhead presses - do I just need to build up in that area? Or are my biomechanics such that I just can't do dips without injuring myself?

It sounds like rotator cuff weakness. I had trouble with my left shoulder and dips would make it ache a bit. You might want to look into some rotator cuff exercises and warmups. This is a great place to start on that. Also there are plenty of sites with other rotator cuff exercises so just look for those.

 

[MegaVovaN]

I had dip pain when I did them:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ey=y&keyword1=dip+pain

 

[FightingChance]

Thank you for the link MegaVovaN, your description sounds very familiar. I am not a big guy and don't have big shoulders, so perhaps the bars I were using were too far apart as well. It just stinks, because I like the motion of the exercise a lot. Also thanks for the advice, SociallyChallenged.

 

[BeauJangles]

Funny, I was just about ask the same question.

I don't have particularly wide shoulders either, so I'm wondering if, because the bars are too far apart, my shoulders essentially get sandwiched. I guess the second question is do i need to find bars that are closer together or can I strengthen my shoulders sufficiently?

 

[FightingChance]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Funny, I was just about ask the same question.

I don't have particularly wide shoulders either, so I'm wondering if, because the bars are too far apart, my shoulders essentially get sandwiched. I guess the second question is do i need to find bars that are closer together or can I strengthen my shoulders sufficiently?

I would wager that closer bars really change the triangulation of the exercise, so you probably want bars that place your hands very close to your sides. I know it feel better to me. Unfortunately, the narrowest the bars go at my gym are still a touch too wide for me.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: FightingChance

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Funny, I was just about ask the same question.

I don't have particularly wide shoulders either, so I'm wondering if, because the bars are too far apart, my shoulders essentially get sandwiched. I guess the second question is do i need to find bars that are closer together or can I strengthen my shoulders sufficiently?

I would wager that closer bars really change the triangulation of the exercise, so you probably want bars that place your hands very close to your sides. I know it feel better to me. Unfortunately, the narrowest the bars go at my gym are still a touch too wide for me.

Hmm... that's too bad because I don't think my gym has adjustable bars.

 

[peckalo]

Dips used to hurt me. I am a pretty small guy but have wide shoulders for my height.

Since my overall strength has increased over the years (sholders and upper pecs) I don't get pain anymore.

 

[spamsk8r]

If you can't find bars that are closer together, look into getting a set of gymnastics rings that you can hang, that way they will always be right by your side when you do dips (plus you can do lots of other exercises on rings)