So, after enthusiastically announcing that I was going to do kettlebells every day this month, I have unceremoniously abandoned it in favour of finally rehabbing my shoulder properly!

I have had shoulder “issues” on and off for quite a long time, I have written about it on here before, probably 3 or 4 years ago and a couple of times in between. I say “issues” because it is unclear what exactly is wrong. I know it hurts when I do things, but how much it hurts and where it hurts can vary considerably, but it is always the same movements that aggravate it. It did get better for a while, but flares up every now and again, and for the past (probably) year, I have just been putting up with the fact that it hurts when I bench press or move my arm, and sometimes my shoulder/neck etc hurt so much it gives me migraines, oh and I occasionally get pins and needles in my right hand…

Ok, when you see it written down it seems ridiculous…

So, after far too long faffing about I am working with Matt in his capacity as Technical Prodder (sports therapist/massage person) and Personal Trainer, to get this thing fixed!

He seems to have a pretty good idea of what is going on, especially as my shoulder decided to play the game and actually hurt during an appointment rather than fixing itself for the duration and then getting worse again…

Apparently it is something to do with the supraspinatus muscle, which (according to dr google)  is part of the rotator cuff. (Yes I could have looked in my anatomy book, but that is not where I am…)

 This is a reasonably common muscle to cause problems apparently, especially in people who do lots of overhead impacty things, or throwing. Along with the inward rotating and hunching that comes with desk sitting and driving! 

No, I don’t do a lot of throwing, but until recently I did a lot of stick waving in a forward and backward motion. 

Pains from this muscle rarely stay in this muscle, they do tend to radiate down your arm. We know referred pain is a thing so this is no surprise!

So knowing all of this, I, decided (ok…I was told) that it was time to try to fix it. Apparently there are two phases to fixing it, the getting the supraspinatus (and surroundings) stronger phase and the sorting out the wierd scapular movement phase. Or the stopping it hurting phase and the stopping it happening again phase if you prefer…

So, for phase one I have a lovely new rehab program and a (mostly legs and back) training program to go with it to make sure I don’t go off piste and hurt it again in the meantime…

I have lots of subtle, but harder than you think exercises to do with a resistance band and some technical arm waving…

It all makes sense really!! Now all I have to do is actually do the rehab…

That and maybe stop looking for strongman events and training until I am fixed…

ok…I am not… yet… I just really wanted to use the gif…