Shoulder pops when doing military press

[brikis98]

after several years of problem free dumbell & barbell military press, my left shoulder started to hurt a couple months ago. it was a sharp pain when my shoulder was at certain angles. i gave it plenty of rest (didn't do any shoulder exercises for a month) and did various PT shoulder exercises with elastic bands.

there is no sharp pain anymore, but every time i try to do the military press motion, my shoulder makes a popping noise which feels somewhat unpleasant. i can do bench press (including incline) with no issues, but straight up and down just won't work.

yes, i'll go to a doctor and get it looked at, but what other compound shoulder exercises can i do in the meantime? i already do isolation exercises (also w/ no pain), such as front & lateral raises...

 

[sash1]

cleans, snatches (though that may hurt your shoulder as well)

 

[purbeast0]

have you tried doing dumbell shoulder presses?

i popped my shoulder out doing barbell military presses years ago, and I wasn't even doing heavy weight. i was just starting out again after my winter break from college and went back and was doing my first "real" set (after warmups) but it still was not that much. as I lifted the bar off hte holder my shoulder popped out. i was now out of the gym for another month (after takingg 6 weeks off for winter break).

that was the last time I ever did barbell presses. i have tried the smith machine but just do not like it.

i now strictly do the dumbell presses for my shoulders and have seen tremendous gains since starting doing them.

 

[BlackTigers]

Ewww. I have no solution, but I did the exact same thing to my shoulder a few years ago. I believe I was playing baseball, ad I completely tossed my right shoulder out.

Since then I can pop it out of socket at will, by simply twitching my arm the right (wrong) way, and rotate it to pop it back in. I never saw a doctor for it, although I probably should have.

The only thing I pay attention to when lifting is if my arms rotate too far, I have to exert extra force with my shoulder to stop it from popping.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
have you tried doing dumbell shoulder presses?

i popped my shoulder out doing barbell military presses years ago, and I wasn't even doing heavy weight. i was just starting out again after my winter break from college and went back and was doing my first "real" set (after warmups) but it still was not that much. as I lifted the bar off hte holder my shoulder popped out. i was now out of the gym for another month (after takingg 6 weeks off for winter break).

that was the last time I ever did barbell presses. i have tried the smith machine but just do not like it.

i now strictly do the dumbell presses for my shoulders and have seen tremendous gains since starting doing them.

yea, it pops for both dumbell and barbell

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: sash1
cleans, snatches (though that may hurt your shoulder as well)

i LOVE cleans/snatches but my body just doesn't tolerate rapid/explosive movements with heavy weight. i had a pretty bad injury to one of my traps (ie, upper back/neck area) a long time ago and these quick movements (especially anything over the head) tend to hurt it. there, i have to stick to slower, more controlled movements with my squats, deadlifts, bench, etc.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: purbeast0
have you tried doing dumbell shoulder presses?

i popped my shoulder out doing barbell military presses years ago, and I wasn't even doing heavy weight. i was just starting out again after my winter break from college and went back and was doing my first "real" set (after warmups) but it still was not that much. as I lifted the bar off hte holder my shoulder popped out. i was now out of the gym for another month (after takingg 6 weeks off for winter break).

that was the last time I ever did barbell presses. i have tried the smith machine but just do not like it.

i now strictly do the dumbell presses for my shoulders and have seen tremendous gains since starting doing them.

yea, it pops for both dumbell and barbell

well then I think you are out of luck. there really aren't other compound exercises you can do for your shoulder other than the sholder presses overhead. i also do upright rows but those hit different areas of the shoulder than presses do.

i'd say try using the machines or the hammer strength machine and see if it happens, and if it does and it bugs you, just hold off until you see a doc.

 

[soccerballtux]

You know that's funny my left shoulder does that too. I don't know what the solution is.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
You know that's funny my left shoulder does that too. I don't know what the solution is.

Sounds like a chronic rotator cuff problem of some sort Some info on the topic

 

[Gravity]

Make sure you don't let your elbow angle exceed 90 degrees on the movement.

And, go see your doc.

Gravity