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I'm getting back into weight training after several months not doing them and found i had some instability in my shoulder this morning while working on bench presses (flat and inclined). I was using free weights, and am thinking I should be looking more at using machines until I can get the stability issue sorted out.

Anyone have any experience or tips of dealing with this kind of issue? I decreased the weights, but maybe I didn't decrease enough?

Thanks.

Strengthen your rotator cuffs

Im recently back after hurting my left shoulder, its taken for ever to heal properly, but I'm now back in the gym lifting weights.

if your having problems performing the movement correctly with the weights you using, go down in weights until you can complete the movement with proper form.

Also, you might want to look up shoulder specific exercises, there are literally tones out there my trainer has me doing a good half dozen different movements and weights just to get my shoulder moving and to strengthen the muscles.

I'd personally stick with free weights, you have an extended range of movement you can do and more muscles come into play to stabilise you, moving to machines could just cause more problems.

Bring the weights down a bit (db or barbell) and incorporate more work with a bosu or stability ball. Since you're just getting back into it, you don't want to have to take (more) time off from the gym by pushing it to hard and (maybe) straining the shoulder.

My .02.

Try Kenesio Tape. The price has come way down.

mike3

I've had a similar problem recently. I cut down weights and stuck with free weights rather than machines.
The pain could be tendonites (most common on shoulders, basically due to increasing weights too quick) or your shoulder muscles being hurt by wrong movements/posture. Some info on this:
http://www.menshealth.com/cda/conditions.do?site=MensHealth&channel=health&category=atoz.guide&conitem=SW57305305&type=Conditions&page=0

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=fitness&category=muscle.building&topic=arms&conitem=98b871957cb98010VgnVCM200000cee793cd____

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/conditions.do?site=MensHealth&channel=health&category=atoz.guide&conitem=SW57200768&type=Conditions&page=0

Good Luck!