this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2025
14 points (100.0% liked)

Physical Education

961 readers
1 users here now

A place where comrades can

(1) discuss how best to optimize their physical health and develop “Iron Proletarian Discipline” in a healthy and holistic manner. Including but not limited to weight training, stretching, cardiovascular exercise, meditation, nutrition, sleep, and daily routines with an eye towards cultivating the best habits possible,

(2) share motivational and educational writings or videos; bonus points if the perspective is that of a Communist thinker such as Mao or Fidel Castro, and

(3) discuss the relationship between mental health and exercise.

Rule:

Approach every conversation in good faith.

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

How come I can do push-ups all day, but if I try to bench press I get a piercing pain in my shoulder (just below my calvicle, I think)?!

Haven't noticed any other movement where that pain is so strong. I do feel discomfort if I sleep on that side.

top 7 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] RustySerpent@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 5 months ago

The load on your shoulders is both much different and potentially much much higher. You should probably take a look at technique and grip width. Also make sure your shoulders are specifically strong for this type of pushing. Your body might just not like (flat) benching. Some people's don't. Not much to do then, but just accept and move on. If you don't have some specific attachment to or need for the movement, you don't really need it.

Maybe try real pause benching with lower loads exclusively for a while. Doing them exclusively on lighter days or on your warm-up sets gets plenty of reps in at some point down the line. Great to get the bracing and technique right and to get your shoulders strong enough in every phase of the lift.

And honestly, just be careful. If you feel pain in a movement, don't do it. You only get one set of shoulders, don't fuck them up for something ultimately unimportant. Having a functioning shoulder every day is much more important than a PR if you're not competing.

[–] GreatSquare@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

While both are compound movements, your shoulder blades are far more free to move for a push up. This allows some muscles to compensate for others. You may have to reduce the weight for bench press a lot until your shoulder adapts.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.pt 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I thought the opposite: the bench press is a more open kynetic chain than push-ups... that could be it. What muscle do you think it could be? It feels like the subclavius, but that would be odd wouldn't it?!

[–] GreatSquare@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But you're restricted by the bench. Actually open chain is less stable so the risk of injury is higher.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.pt 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I must have expressed myself wrongly. That's my intuition as well - the fact that the open chain is more unstable can more easily lead to injury. Maybe a weird synergy, lack of motor control...

Last session (yesterday) I did my bench press with only 20kg more or less. I could complete all series no problem, but then during the night I regretted having done that.

@RustySerpent@lemmygrad.ml is right - I only get one set o shoulders.

[–] GreatSquare@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Last session (yesterday) I did my bench press with only 20kg more or less. I could complete all series no problem, but then during the night I regretted having done that.

This is still creating piercing pain regardless of whether you complete the exercise. That sounds beyond just a delayed onset muscle soreness. On any movement, you can be lifting a weight well within your capability and still get an injury.

You should go lighter until the problem doesn't arise. There are other exercises you can do instead if you want to go harder. The pushup is great actually.

Having had shoulder injuries myself, I don't heavy bench press ever now. The old injuries would always flair up so I learnt my lesson. I prefer a decline push up or dips or certain machines.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.pt 2 points 5 months ago