Should I stop lifting weights for a while?

[Artmama]

I am so proud of myself, I have been lifting free weights for about 6 months and just love what it is doing for me. I stepped it up a little about a week ago and did two sets of each exercise(I am following a program from a book) and I noticed after I finished that my left shoulder felt weird, not exactly hurting, but a little wrong somehow when I lift my arm. I did not lift for a week and a half, then tried it again yesterday, but with only one set. Now I feel it again(it had mostly subsided). So what do I do? I do not want to just stop lifting and lose all the gains I have made. It does not hurt exactly when I lift, just feels like it is rusty or creaky in the joint, and also it does feel like if I am not careful it will hurt.

I am considering just lifting very light weights, or no weights but doing the movements. Or should I just stop all movements that feel potentially aggravating for a while? I could go to a DR but I have no idea which kind to go to.

Any help from anyone who knows weight training and or healing would be greatly appreciated!

[ryleigh'smama]

I pulled/tweaked a hip muscle awhile back. I stopped doing the one exercise that really bothered it, BUT I didn't stop lifting and I didn't stop ALL exercises that bothered it (well I did, but only for about 2 weeks). I should have probably stopped longer, it took 2 months to recover from in the end. I'm sure it took longer because I didn't rest it more.

[frogguruami]

I would look into some shoulder mobility exercises. The problem probably has more to do with being inflexible or having a muscular imbalance somewhere.

One of the tests I use to gauge my flexibility is the "stick 'em up test". (No I didn't make that up!) Stand flat against a wall and put your arms up so the backs and forearms are touching the wall. (Think about how you would look in a old western if someone told you to "stick 'em up") Then slide your arms up until they are straight above you head keeping them touching the wall the whole time. If you can't do that then your mobility is poor. The test and the exercise to improve are the same thing.

What exercise in particular is bothering you? And do you have access to a trainer or someone that can check your form?

[Artmama]

I just tried the mobility test, I can do it.

I am not sure that there is any one particular exercise, but I guess it would be anything where I lift my arm in front of my body towards my head. I am sure my form is not always great, I do not have the money to hire a trainer so I follow a book. I try to do it all right but I am sure I don't always do so.

So now what?

Today is a workout day, I think I am going to try just skipping all the arm, back and shoulder stuff and concentrating on abs and lower body and cardio.

I am not sure how long I should do this for. I have an acupuncture appointment tomorrow, I will get her toi work on it and see if she has any advice for me.

I just feel a kind of ache (not too bad) in my shoulder now but the last thing I want to do is make this a chronic thing.

[jighead]

Check out this thread. There's some really good bodyweight exercises for strength training that don't involve weights. If you find yourself injured or sore a lot from lifting, try mixing in some of those workouts.

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by Artmama

I am not sure that there is any one particular exercise, but I guess it would be anything where I lift my arm in front of my body towards my head. I am sure my form is not always great, I do not have the money to hire a trainer so I follow a book. I try to do it all right but I am sure I don't always do so.

You should be able to ask any of the trainers in your gym to correct your form. They should do that without charging you.

Sounds like you might be doing front raises. I am one for only doing functional exercises and multi muscle movements. So I would probably switch that out for a shoulder press or push press.

Definitely give yourself time to recover and don't be afraid to ask one of the trainers about your form. That is what they are there for!!!