How do you train around a bad rotator cuff?

[plifter]

I had surgery on my right RC last year. Now my left is flaring up. I don't want another operation since the benefits of the first one only lasted about 9 months. I had a partial tear which the surgeon didn't actually repair. He just removed a bone spur and a bursa sack to free up some space in my shoulder and decompress the rotator cuff. He said he didn't repair the tear because it would have made a much longer recovery time. Basically I'm now training with 2 bad shoulders. I did Smith machine military presses with an incredible 95 pounds tonight and it hurt like a mutha fucka. I really wish there was a doctor that could fix it but I think that's not likely to happen. Karma for good advice on training around such an injury.

 

[super_rice]

Stop training around it. Rehab the shoulder.

Some things you can do:

- look up things like the basic rotator cuff strengthening exercises on t-nation.
- strengthen the entire shoulder girdle. even things like front squats help.
- do lots of mobility exercises
- i was going to tell you to avoid things like power snatches and things like that, but i guess you would not be doing them anyway, considering you are doing smith machine presses. get a clue, it's been a year. fix the shoulder don't train around it.

 

[fortunatesun]

This is an all too common problem. On the up side side there's alot of reading on it find something that sounds like you:

http://www.elitefts.com/articles/rehabilitation/default.asp

I'd also say it'd be worth your time to see a doctor that specializes in sports medicine but they mention that several times.