Bench Press pain

[Hulk]

I keep getting a sharp pain just above my collar bone on the left side when benching, it seems to be getting worse. Will i have to take some time off to let it recover, i am currently making good gains and don't really want to stop benching, what would you recommend! :021:

[veganlifter]

take some time off mate.

better make solid gains through the year than force yourself to peak, injure yourself, rest, lose gains and work back up again. Take it from someone who wishes someone said this to me 2 weeks ago, lol!

[the block]

is it with the barbell or dumbbell?

if it is getting worse then def. rest it.

[Hulk]

Its my own fault really, i have been benching in satans cage! Stupid i know but i find it easier to progress as the poundages go up in smaller increments compared to the db's! I think its time to whine at the gym manager and get another barbell, and a squat rack while he's at it! :075:

[GoldenArrow]

As Eddie Murphy would say:

"I didn't want to do that baby........but you brought that shit on yourself!"

[BengDogg]

Satans cage = Smith yes?

[Hulk]

Afraid so, did dumbell bp last night and it wasn't quite as painfull but still hurt, im gonna give weighted dips a go next week, see if that helps! :013:

[Scourge]

Its my own fault really, i have been benching in satans cage!
You sicken me...

Make sure you're alright before doing anything too heavy again - Most people's shoulders take a beating in the normal course of training as it is. If you don't let them heal first, they'll only get worse.

[Scourge]

How's the shoulder?

[Alex (Big-AL)]

Maybe you are also bringing the bar down too far up (nearer the neck, as opposed to nearer the nipples). Bench used to bother me in the same way before i rectified that problem.

AL

[Hulk]

Cheers guys, shoulder is fine now, been doing some incline work that hasn't been aggrevating it and cant feel any pain now, i will give it a week or so to make sure then start lifting properly again.
i think the problem may have been that i was bringing the bar down slightly too low, meaning i had to push up and away slightly away, i was doing singles and doubles too which probably didn't help. :023:

[DMPM]

Cheers guys, shoulder is fine now, been doing some incline work that hasn't been aggrevating it and cant feel any pain now, i will give it a week or so to make sure then start lifting properly again.
i think the problem may have been that i was bringing the bar down slightly too low, meaning i had to push up and away slightly away, i was doing singles and doubles too which probably didn't help. :023:
Away from what? Are you pushing the bar back over your eyes? If so, then there is your problem most likely, you should bring the bar down low and push it straight back up.

[Hulk]

I was using the Smith mate, lowering it down to just under my nipples which meant i was pushing up and away from me as my smith runs at a small angle, pushing up and towards my feet slightly if that makes sense. or it could just be the crappy smith being a machine and messin with my natural motion!
Bring on my home gym with power rack! :026:

[Scourge]

Touching the bar down somewhere low down your body (between your nipple line and your upper abs) should help save your shoulders by reducing shoulder rotation. Touching the bar higher up your chest has the opposite effect.

Ergo, I don't think that was the problem. I think the problem was most likely that you were using the Smith Machine, which sucks.

[DMPM]

Sorry, I missed the Smith bit. Yeah, they suck, they should all be melted down into plates and bars and stuff. :024: