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Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by mcelik
Did you know that nearly 44% of people who lift weights or do physical activities often get shoulder pain? This pain is usually from rotator cuff strain or other related issues.
Shoulder impingement is a common problem that can really hurt, mainly in those who do overhead exercises like the overhead press. We will look at the exercises that might cause this issue. We will also give tips on how to prevent and treat it.
The overhead press is a key exercise in many weightlifting routines. But, it can also lead to shoulder impingement. This happens because lifting a weight overhead strains the shoulder joint and muscles.
Choosing between a barbell or dumbbells for the overhead press affects the risk of shoulder impingement. Let’s look at the differences between these two options.
The barbell overhead press and dumbbell overhead press impact the shoulder joint differently. A barbell requires a fixed hand position, which might increase the risk of impingement. Dumbbells, on the other hand, allow for a more natural movement and can reduce stress on the shoulder.
| Characteristics | Barbell Overhead Press | Dumbbell Overhead Press |
| Hand Position | Fixed | More flexible |
| Range of Motion | More restricted | More natural |
| Risk of Impingement | Higher | Lower |
Poor form increases the risk of shoulder impingement during the overhead press. Mistakes include arching the back, using too much weight, and not fully extending the arms overhead. These errors add stress to the shoulder joint and raise the risk of injury.
To lower the risk of shoulder impingement, several modifications can be made. Using dumbbells instead of a barbell, reducing the weight used, and emphasizing proper form are key. Also, strengthening the rotator cuff muscles through specific exercises can help stabilize the shoulder and reduce impingement risk.
Lateral raises are a common gym exercise that can lead to shoulder impingement if done wrong. This exercise lifts weights out to the sides until they reach shoulder level. It can strain the shoulder joint and the muscles around it.
The way you do lateral raises matters a lot. Proper technique means lifting weights with smooth, controlled movements. Avoid swinging or jerking. Also, don’t lift the weights too high to prevent the shoulders from rolling forward and causing impingement.
Improper technique can lead to shoulder injuries. Using too much weight or not controlling the movement is risky. It’s better to use lighter weights and do more repetitions to lower the risk of impingement.
Choosing the right weight for lateral raises is key to avoid straining the shoulder. Pick a weight that allows for controlled, smooth movements. If the weight is too heavy, it can cause poor form and increase the risk of shoulder impingement.
If you have persistent shoulder pain or impingement from lateral raises, there are safer alternative exercises. These exercises target the shoulder muscles without the risks. Some alternatives include:
By focusing on proper technique, choosing the right weight, and trying safer alternatives, you can lower the risk of shoulder impingement from lateral raises.
The bench press is a favorite for building chest strength. But, it can cause shoulder strain if you don’t take the right steps. This exercise involves lying on a flat bench and pressing a weight upwards. This can put the shoulder joint through motions that may lead to impingement.
The grip width on a bench press affects the shoulders. A wide grip can increase strain on the shoulder joint, raising the risk of impingement. On the other hand, a narrow grip might reduce strain but could change how muscles work, leading to other problems if not done right.
Finding the right grip width is key to balancing chest strength with shoulder safety. Try different grip widths to find what feels best and safest for you.
The elbow position during a bench press also matters a lot. Elbows that flare out can increase shoulder stress, leading to impingement. Keeping elbows closer to the body can help lower this risk.
Good technique is essential. We suggest keeping elbows at a 45-degree angle to the body. This reduces shoulder stress while working the chest muscles well.
If you have ongoing shoulder issues, changing the bench press can help. Using incline or decline benches can lessen shoulder stress. Another option is to switch to dumbbells instead of a barbell. This allows for more movement and might reduce shoulder strain.
| Modification | Description | Benefit |
| Incline Bench | Adjusts the bench to an inclined position | Reduces stress on the shoulder joint |
| Decline Bench | Adjusts the bench to a declined position | Targets lower chest, potentially reducing shoulder strain |
| Dumbbell Press | Uses dumbbells instead of a barbell | Allows for greater range of motion, reducing strain |
Knowing the risks of the bench press and making these changes can help you keep exercising safely. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of this effective exercise while protecting your shoulders.
Some exercises, like lifting weights behind the neck, increase the risk of shoulder impingement. These exercises can put unusual strain on the shoulder joint. This can lead to impingement if you don’t take the right precautions.
The behind-the-neck press is a risky exercise for shoulder impingement. It involves lifting a weight behind the head or neck. This can cause the shoulder to rotate in ways that may lead to impingement. Improper form is a big contributor to this risk, as it can cause the shoulder blades to move in unnatural ways.
Behind-the-neck pulldowns also increase the risk of shoulder impingement. This exercise involves pulling a weight down behind the neck. Proper form is key to minimize the risk. But even with correct technique, some people may be at risk due to their anatomy.
“It’s not just about the weight you lift, but how you lift it. Behind-the-neck exercises require careful consideration of form and technique to avoid injury.”
There are safer alternatives to behind-the-neck exercises. Front presses and pulldowns in front of the body are safer options. They target the same muscle groups without the risk of shoulder impingement.
Choosing safer exercises can help avoid shoulder impingement. This reduces the risk of injury and keeps the shoulder joint healthy. Always talk to a fitness professional or healthcare provider to find the best exercises for your needs and goals.
Upright rows are common in many workouts but can harm your shoulders if not done carefully. This exercise lifts a weight to the chest or shoulders, straining the shoulder joint. We’ll look at why upright rows are risky, the role of grip width, and safer shoulder exercises.
Upright rows can cause shoulder impingement, where tendons rub against bones, leading to pain. Poor form and too much weight make this worse. It’s key to use the right technique.
The grip width in upright rows affects shoulder stress. A wider grip increases strain, while a narrower one might be safer. Try different widths to see what’s best for your shoulders.
If upright rows worry you, there are safer options. Exercises like lateral raises and front raises target shoulders without the risk. They’re good for all fitness levels and safer for your shoulders.
Swimming is great for your health but can lead to shoulder impingement if you don’t use the right techniques. The repetitive motion in swimming strokes can strain the shoulder, causing impingement. We’ll look at the mechanics of freestyle and butterfly strokes, the concerns they pose, and how to prevent them.
The freestyle stroke is common and can stress the shoulder joint. Proper technique is key to avoid impingement. This stroke involves arm rotation, shoulder roll, and hand entry.
When doing the freestyle, the arm enters the water with the hand down. Then, it rotates to a neutral position as it pulls through. This can cause impingement if the arm isn’t aligned right or if the shoulder muscles are weak.
The butterfly stroke also stresses the shoulder joint. The simultaneous arm movement and body undulation can strain the shoulder.
Swimmers doing the butterfly are at risk of shoulder impingement. The wide motion and forceful arm movements are culprits. Proper body positioning and arm technique are vital to avoid this.
| Stroke | Common Issues | Prevention Strategies |
| Freestyle | Poor arm alignment, weak shoulder muscles | Proper technique training, shoulder strengthening exercises |
| Butterfly | Wide range of motion, forceful arm movements | Body positioning drills, arm technique adjustments |
To prevent shoulder impingement, swimmers can take several steps. Warm-up exercises before swimming can prepare the shoulder muscles. Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles through specific exercises can also help.
Swimmers should also focus on proper technique in their strokes. Getting help from a coach or trainer can improve technique. Adding shoulder mobility exercises to their routine can also help keep the shoulder flexible and mobile.
Some people are more likely to get shoulder impingement because of certain risk factors. Knowing these factors helps in preventing and treating the condition.
Body shape can affect the chance of getting shoulder impingement. For example, people with a hooked acromion or unusual acromion shapes are more at risk.
Table 1: Anatomical Variations and Shoulder Impingement Risk
| Anatomical Variation | Risk Level |
| Hooked Acromion | High |
| Flat Acromion | Low |
| Curved Acromion | Moderate |
Having had a shoulder injury before can make you more likely to get shoulder impingement. Injuries like rotator cuff strains or dislocations can cause long-term inflammation and scarring, leading to impingement.
“Previous shoulder injuries are a significant risk factor for developing shoulder impingement, as they can lead to chronic inflammation and scarring.”
– Orthopedic Research Journal
Age and gender play a role in getting shoulder impingement. Older people are more likely to get it due to wear and tear. Younger people who do repetitive overhead activities are also at risk.
Jobs that involve a lot of overhead work or heavy lifting can increase the risk of shoulder impingement. Construction workers, factory workers, and athletes in sports like baseball or tennis are at higher risk.
Knowing these risk factors helps us take steps to prevent shoulder impingement and manage its symptoms better.
Poor posture can lead to shoulder impingement, causing pain and discomfort. Slouching or bad posture puts extra stress on the shoulder joints. This can irritate tendons and bursae.
Poor posture changes how the shoulder joint aligns. This can cause soft tissues to get pinched, leading to pain and less mobility.
Forward head posture is a big problem for shoulder impingement. When the head is ahead of the shoulders, it strains the shoulder joint. This happens because of an imbalance in neck and shoulder muscles.
Correcting forward head posture means strengthening neck muscles and improving posture. You can do this with exercises and by paying attention to your posture all day.
Rounded shoulders also lead to shoulder impingement. When shoulders roll forward, the shoulder blades spread out. This reduces space between the acromion and humerus, causing impingement.
Strengthening muscles between and around the shoulder blades helps fix rounded shoulders. Exercises for the trapezius, rhomboids, and scapular stabilizers are key.
Fixing poor posture needs awareness, exercise, and daily habit changes. Simple steps, like standing and stretching at work, can help a lot.
By fixing poor posture and adopting better habits, you can lower your risk of shoulder impingement. This improves your shoulder health overall.
It’s important to know how rotator cuff weakness and shoulder impingement are linked. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons around the shoulder. It helps keep the shoulder stable and allows for movement.
The rotator cuff muscles are key to keeping the shoulder stable and moving freely. They include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. If these muscles are weak, it can cause the humerus to not fit right in the shoulder socket, leading to impingement.
Healthcare professionals use specific tests to find rotator cuff weakness. These tests include:
Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles is key to preventing and treating shoulder impingement. Some good exercises are:
Understanding the rotator cuff’s role, testing for weakness, and doing strengthening exercises can help prevent shoulder impingement. It’s vital to make these practices part of a good shoulder care routine.
To avoid shoulder impingement, you need a few key steps. Start with a good warm-up, focus on the right exercise technique, and plan your workouts carefully. These steps can help lower your risk of shoulder injuries.
A good warm-up gets your shoulder muscles ready for harder activities. Start with low-intensity exercises like arm circles and shoulder rolls. These help increase blood flow and loosen up your muscles.
Keeping the right exercise technique is key to avoiding shoulder impingement. It’s important to use correct form when doing exercises that work the shoulder joint.
| Exercise | Proper Technique | Common Mistake |
| Overhead Press | Keep the barbell or dumbbells directly over the shoulders, avoiding any leaning or arching. | Allowing the elbows to flare out or using too much weight. |
| Lateral Raises | Raise the dumbbells to the sides until they are at shoulder level, avoiding any swinging motion. | Using too much weight or raising the dumbbells too high. |
A good training program balances strength, flexibility, and endurance to prevent shoulder impingement. Make sure to include exercises that strengthen the rotator cuff muscles and improve shoulder mobility.
To avoid shoulder impingement, add exercises that boost shoulder mobility to your routine. Good shoulder mobility keeps your shoulders healthy and injury-free. We’ll look at exercises that enhance mobility, focusing on the thoracic spine, shoulder stretches, and dynamic drills.
The thoracic spine is key to shoulder mobility. Better thoracic spine mobility lowers the chance of shoulder impingement. Thoracic extensions are a simple yet effective exercise. Lie on a foam roller or a rolled-up towel under your thoracic spine and extend your back over it.
You can also do cat-cow stretches on your hands and knees. Arch your back and then round it.
Shoulder stretches boost flexibility and ease muscle tension. Cross-body stretches are very effective. Hold your arm straight out to the side and use your other arm to pull it across your body.
You can also do wall slides. Stand with your back against a wall and slide your arms up the wall to improve shoulder flexion.
Dynamic mobility drills move your shoulders through various motions to boost mobility and strength. Arm circles are a simple drill. Hold your arms straight out to the sides and make small circles with your hands.
Scapular wall slides are another great drill. Stand with your back against a wall and slide your scapula up and down, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
Adding these exercises to your routine can greatly improve shoulder mobility and lower the risk of shoulder impingement. As
“The key to preventing shoulder injuries is maintaining good shoulder mobility and strength.”
Regular practice of these exercises will lead to healthier, more resilient shoulders.
Shoulder impingement can really affect your life and fitness goals. We’ve looked at exercises and factors that lead to it. We also talked about how to prevent and treat it.
Knowing the risks of exercises like the overhead press and bench press helps. We can change our workouts to avoid shoulder impingement. It’s also important to do exercises that improve shoulder mobility and keep good posture.
Preventing shoulder impingement is all about being careful in your workouts. Listen to your body and get help when you need it. This way, you can keep your shoulders safe and stay healthy.
To treat and prevent shoulder impingement, focus on the right exercises. Strengthening and improving shoulder mobility are key. By taking care of your shoulders, you can have a safer and more effective workout.
Shoulder impingement happens when tendons or bursae in the shoulder get irritated or inflamed. This often happens from doing the same motion over and over or from bad posture. It’s common in people who do a lot of physical activity or lift weights, if they don’t do it right.
Yes, some exercises are riskier than others. Lifting weights overhead, like in the overhead press, or doing the same motion a lot, like in lateral raises, can lead to shoulder impingement. Exercises like behind-the-neck lifts and upright rows also strain the shoulder.
To lower the risk of shoulder impingement in the overhead press, use the right form and technique. Don’t arch your back. Try using dumbbells instead of a barbell. You can also do the exercise with a neutral grip or with lighter weights.
Instead of lateral raises, try exercises that work the deltoids without too much strain on the shoulder. Front raises or shoulder rotations with lighter weights are good options.
Yes, bad posture, like leaning forward or having rounded shoulders, can strain the shoulder and lead to impingement. Fixing your posture with exercises and being mindful can help.
To avoid shoulder impingement, warm up properly, focus on proper technique, and plan your workouts to not overstrain the shoulder. Adding exercises that improve shoulder mobility can also help.
Weak rotator cuff muscles can lead to shoulder impingement. The rotator cuff muscles help keep the shoulder stable. Strengthening them with exercises like shoulder rotations and scapular squeezes can prevent impingement.
Yes, swimming, like freestyle and butterfly strokes, can strain the shoulder and cause impingement. Swimmers can lower their risk by using the right technique, doing shoulder strengthening exercises, and avoiding too much training.
Yes, jobs that involve a lot of repetitive motion, heavy lifting, or working overhead can increase the risk of shoulder impingement. Workers in these jobs can reduce their risk by using the right techniques, taking breaks, and doing shoulder exercises regularly.
To improve shoulder mobility, do exercises like thoracic spine mobility drills, shoulder stretches, and dynamic mobility exercises. Adding these to your workout routine can help keep your shoulders healthy and reduce the risk of impingement.
Kolber, M. J., & Haimes, J. E. (2013). Characteristics of shoulder impingement in the recreational weight-training population. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(4), 995-1001. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24077379
