Anatomy & Physio Guys - Problems with Shoulder Abduction

lookslikesausage · Jul 27, 2020

Basically i cannot perform a side lateral raise (even with a 5 lb. dumbbell) without shrugging my shoulder. this is happening pretty early on in the movement. as a result, my affected deltoid is noticeably less developed (specifically the medial and posterior heads). having the same issue with a chest-supported lateral raise for the rear deltoid. very limited ROM and shrugging going on halfway through the movement. very poor development there too. i'm thinking it's because i can't get a good rom on both movements.

on my "good" delt, i had a surgically repaired labrum (from a rugby injury) but maintain a good rom on all lateral movements presently. overhead mobility is affected though and that side pops a lot during pullups (on the eccentric) and it also aches when hanging from a bar.

the injury on the bad one; threw a heavy medicine ball overhead 25 years ago and was injured immediately. yes, i realize how incredibly dumb it was (i was a kid). spent the whole summer with my arm in a sling instead of playing baseball. the doctor at the time who, in retrospect, i don't think was very good, proudly diagnosed me with a torn shoulder capsule and sent me home in a sling to where for a whole summer. no mri.

my guess is that i had a torn rotator cuff and now have two plus decades worth of scar tissue that is restricting my ROM. so my question to you guys what can i do, if anything, at this point?

Thank you for any and all help.

muscle96ss · Jul 27, 2020

lookslikesausage said:
Basically i cannot perform a side lateral raise (even with a 5 lb. dumbbell) without shrugging my shoulder. this is happening pretty early on in the movement. as a result, my affected deltoid is noticeably less developed (specifically the medial and posterior heads). having the same issue with a chest-supported lateral raise for the rear deltoid. very limited ROM and shrugging going on halfway through the movement. very poor development there too. i'm thinking it's because i can't get a good rom on both movements.

on my "good" delt, i had a surgically repaired labrum (from a rugby injury) but maintain a good rom on all lateral movements presently. overhead mobility is affected though and that side pops a lot during pullups (on the eccentric) and it also aches when hanging from a bar.

the injury on the bad one; threw a heavy medicine ball overhead 25 years ago and was injured immediately. yes, i realize how incredibly dumb it was (i was a kid). spent the whole summer with my arm in a sling instead of playing baseball. the doctor at the time who, in retrospect, i don't think was very good, proudly diagnosed me with a torn shoulder capsule and sent me home in a sling to where for a whole summer. no mri.

my guess is that i had a torn rotator cuff and now have two plus decades worth of scar tissue that is restricting my ROM. so my question to you guys what can i do, if anything, at this point?

Thank you for any and all help.

Your shrug is a result of a weak rotator cuff primarily and tightness secondarily most likely. You need a good physical therapist to do a strengthening/flexibility/scapular stabilization program. If you lack insurance or the financial ability to do that then look up "Throwers 10" and find a friend that has enough knowledge to be able to manually stretch your shoulder. Not the best solution, but going to be the best you can do if you have to do it on your own.