Bars or dumbells

[Latamier]

How many people with shoulder pain have switched to using dumbells on their chest routines instead of bars to help with the pain? I have found that my workouts are even better with dumbells, and I seem to get better pumps as well. Anybody else feel the same way?

 

[WarriorPL]

I have... i have a very bad right shoulder and feel ease when it comes to dumbbells over barbell.... but i still do barbell to the front.

 

[needsize]

I find dumbells actually hurt my shoulder more than the bar

 

[eastarr69]

I have shoulder pain, and I switched to dumbell presses for my shoulder routine and then shrugs and I think I am going to go to them for upright rows....I trained with my bros on bar military presses to the front and my delts were in severe pain, I had to take 3 days off from trainig, and it was not from not traing them...i also dropped doing decline presses from my chest routine since that made me ache in the shoulders as well as the elbow joints.....also, i ask for spots to get the bar off the rack on my flat and incline benching...especially when i get above 315...no need to fuck up a shoulder taking the bar off the rack...right...

E

 

[RusPA81]

I find dumbells actually hurt my shoulder more than the bar

Me too, especially since you can go down lower, it can lead to more problems. I still do them though as I love the stretch.

 

[b fold the truth]

Dbells hurt me too...

B True

 

[makedah]

another vote for dbs hurting my shoulder more, at least on the bench press - lack of stability I guess. Maybe if I experimented more I'd change my mind, but...naaah.

 

[danielson]

find dumbells are better on bench and shoulder press.....i can go lower wth each and not get any pain

(note: once i switched my bench form to tight elbows my shioulder pain issue went away )

 

[fromBUTTtoCUTT]

I've dislocated my shoulders a couple of times and have torn my right rotator cuff, none have been properly rehabed, except for what I do in the gym, but I can't really put the weight up on bar like I used to due to these nagging football injuries from the high school battle days, I do do decent work with DBs, so chalk another one up to DUMBBELLS.

 

[he-man]

love dumbells. get more of a stretch and more of a pump. plus you end up working each side of your chest individually and use more stabilizer muscles. love them for incline definitely.

 

[Nonerz]

I don't have shoulder pain, but I think benching PL style is definietly easier on them (using a bar or DB's).

 

[Fyre]

I have shoulder problems as well and I much prefer dumbbells over barbell.

 

[Latamier]

love dumbells. get more of a stretch and more of a pump. plus you end up working each side of your chest individually and use more stabilizer muscles. love them for incline definitely.

Very good point on the increased stretch and also bringing more stabilizer muscles into play. I feel as though I blasted right through my plateau on strength when I made the transition to dumbells from the bar.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Barbells for me.

 

[JOKER47]

I had switched to DB's because of shoulder pain until I learned to bench PL style. (It also suits my goals better.)

The switch to PL style benching and consistant rotator cuff work has kept me completely pain free for the last several months now, and my bench press has steadily risen.

.02,
Joker

 

[Lord_Suston]

Db for myself are a no no unless it is military press. On incline they just seem to always hurt my shoulders and on flat bench I never get really comfortable....

 

[solidj55]

I used to be a bar man only, powerlifting style bench and closegrip inclines were my main exercises. I had a back injury several months back while squatting and once back in the gym decided I didnt want to powerlift any more, I just wanted to lift for the sheer enjoyment of lifting. When I made the change I switched my routine to using only dumbells on pressing movements and I am glad I did. I wouldnt trade dumbells for anything now, deeper stretch, more natural range of motion, squeeze at the top, recruits stabilizers that normally wouldnt get hit, what more can you ask for???

 

[young guns]

dbell for shoulder presses and flat presses
barbell for incline

i had shoulder problems with flat barbell, so i started doin incline instead and things have gone real well with that