Almost everything I’ve tried for my bench press has failed, largely due to shoulder impingement on my left shoulder. The only thing I can do is floor press and close grip bench press but even cgbp hurts and my form has to be perfect. I keep my shoulder blades screwed in tight or I’ll be in a world of pain. It doesn’t hurt during the day or on rest days, only hurts from bench press.
I’m considering buying the reactive slingshot. I understand fully that it is not a good idea for a novice lifter because they really need to learn the movement pattern without assistance. But I’ve been lifting weights for 3 years and mostly I’m looking for a tool to help allow me to bench press pain free. Is the slingshot something that might help me?
I have one and it’s great. I have a similar issue where if I press in a horizontal plane I’m likely to experience shoulder pain. I don’t know that it’s impingement, but that’s neither here nor there.
The big thing is that it help keep your elbows tucked and gets the pressure off of your shoulder. Get used to it at light weight. Sometimes I still don’t get to do my full program, but it’s definitely an improvement.
That’s my experience with it. I should mention I bought the wild boar based on the weight I was working with.
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You said it right there.
If you have impingement issues that aren’t simply the result of poor technique then you should see a specialist (physiotherapy or similar). The slingshot can help you train around an injury (which is why Mark Bell originally made it) but it doesn’t sound like you have an actual injury, you either have a dysfunctional shoulder or your technique is messed up.
If you have impingement issues that aren’t simply the result of poor technique then you should see a specialist (physiotherapy or similar). The slingshot can help you train around an injury (which is why Mark Bell originally made it) but it doesn’t sound like you have an actual injury, you either have a dysfunctional shoulder or your technique is messed up.
I do have an actual injury, but it has gotten much better. Unless you want to consider shoulder impingement just a dysfunctional shoulder. It used to be that I would be in excruciating pain 24/7. Then it got to the point where it would only hurt if I sleep on it or during pretty much any exercise at the gym. Now, it only hurts when I do certain chest exercises like horizontal bench press. I have been seeing a physical therapist about this. I’ve been doing rotator cuff work and mobility stretches.
Symptoms sound a lot like I did many years ago.
Found I could bench with dumbells very comfortably. And, I actually gained mass after years of dismal results from flat bench.
Renovator,
I actually have decent chest development for someone who hasn’t come close to a 225x5 bench press.
Anyways, for me, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I think I am going to give close grip 1-2 board press a try for now and I’ll buy the slingshot when I can afford it in a month or two. Board presses and floor press both do not cause shoulder pain but I am concerned that it might hinder my progress when I go back to benching from the chest.
I finally purchased one a few months ago and love it. If anything it has really helped my form. In the past I would bench unevenly, but the slingshot has kind of grooved my technique. I like to do a few sets with it, then take it off when I’m doing form work. Also like to overload with it. Buy one, play around and see if it’s for you.
He is definitely seperating them as different things. Impingement from a dysfunctional shoulder is a chronic injury sure, but not one that can be fixed from some r&r like a dislocation or a surgery after a torn rotator cuff or something to that effect. If some rest, ice, and decent at home mobility work cannot fix it then it is a dysfuncton that requires a specialist to help fix. The slingshot was originally made to work around short term injury. Got a sore shoulder from dislocating it the other day? Slap on the slingshot to get a bit of pressure of it. Shoulder inflamed for some reason and you insist on doing bench day anyways? Slap on the slingshot. If you have chronic issues that will not go away then that is the time for backing off bench work and getting it fixed.