shoulder joint pain when bench pressing

[choxx]

Hello! I did not go heavy on this one but i felt pain in my left shoulder joint when bench pressing. I did not complete the set because i feel if i went on, my joint might give. I usually can lift with the same weight with no problem the past weeks. I'm only in my 2nd month of strength training and I don't do other sporting activities anymore because I have a torn acl. Looks like my joints have gone weak. Do I have some kind of a joint disease? Thanks in advance.

[Heidi]

Hi
Unlikley to be any problem with the actual joint itself.
It is more possibly either a small muscle tear (maybe rotator cuff, maybe chest) or tendon injury.
Rest it as much as possible for a couple of weeks or until all pain has gone. Try to stretch the chest muscles and shoulder muscles gently and then return to lighter training. Don't start at the same weight again. Work up slowly. If the problems persist, it could be something more like an impingement syndrome:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/shoulder/impingment_syndrome.htm

[keth123]

After 25 yrs of going to the gym, I think bench pressing is one of the major causes of shoulder problems especially impingement. It is probably your biceps tendon that is the problem.I would take quite some time out plenty of stretches and rc exercises.When you start back stay very light and I mean ultra light! Avoid military press and be carefull with lat pulldowns. I can only tell you this from experience, both my shoulders are wrecked from years of weight training.

[Heidi]

I agree! Weight training, expecially overdoing the chest work is a massive cause of shoulder impingement problems!