The thousand dollar question. Part of the reason I like slow, methodical movement is that your brain can receive the signals that you call pain which are indeed valid. The trick is to first interpret if the feeling is pain or discomfort. The second trick is to translate if the sensation is caused by of inappropriate movement or because you are entering the productive zone. Truly if you feel sharp or dibiltating sensations by all means stop. If you have just become aware of the 'tender' area and you can create a deliberate movement without loosing form or grimmicing then you are transmitting information to the area that you have a higher expectation of performance. This is a tricky area. Basically, if the discomfort makes you grimmice or loose form you are done.

I don't believe in pain but discomfort is the impetus for growth.

Great question. You already read that email. And did the clarification, adnaseum, help?

Vik

I haven't tried the new one yet, didn't get a chance to print this off from work. I did however do the other exercises last night and this morning. The pain isn't sharp, it feels like someone, someone big, slugged me in the shoulder and I have a deep bruise. Hope that helps. It's been 2 days straight which is really upsetting since I thought I was almost done with this "beast". Thanks again.

Curtis, I recommend laying off a couple of days, stay away from the ball throwing and then resume the work isometrically with no band. Get the motions down pat and learn to feel the appropriate. Then add the band and do the exercises once, repeating a second time during the day isometrically for a couple of days. Then do them twice a day with the band. From there we can talk again. There might be a couple of the movements that you would do a third time. This is very consistent with the rehab model. Let me know how it goes. Vickie

I have laid off for a few days. Seems like I'm back to the way I was a week ago. Not much pain. NO BALL THROWING - promise! Will start out light.

Curtis, Thanks for typing in. I just wanted to say that I admire your ability to stay in the process. I teach my 'people' to ask questions when their body feels unusually bad or unusually good. The silly statement of choice is "Isn't that interesting?". This keeps your mind asking for answers from your body instead of going into decision mode. The mental body can accomplish things we can't always understand with our 'inquiring minds'. So stay in discovery through this period.

I have a client (age appx. 60) that just came back from six day golf trip with his buds. He played 36 holes a day and had enough energy for scotch at night, slept great and was eager for the next day. When we first met he could barely finish 18 holes with any small amount of joy and by day three had to micro-manage his physiological symptoms, often not playing the last day or two. Now don't let me fool you, that was a couple of years ago that we started. But he would tell you that he only does 'the work' [that I recommend] at about 40%. So if you do it more diligently would the positive results come faster??? He was so excited during this trip that he called his wife to have me send his stretch protocol via email. That happens rarely for this fitness tutor. (His wife was so excited, BTY, caz she loves for him to be happy and pain free.)

Keep up the good work. Much of your benefit happens during the rest so don't be discouraged. You will be able to throw a ball again, I promise. A man and his toys. Sheesh.

Vik

Still haven't done anything. Right now I'm not in a hurry. I don't want it to come back. What do you think, should I wait a week and then start the exercises?

Yea Curtis, A week out of pain and then begin isometically adding the bands in slowly. I know it seems like overkill but I find that slower is better and pain free is best.Are you doing any other torso stretching? For example I love the torso twist and you could begin that right now. Don't be surprised that you feel the stretch more at your arms than even in the hips. The large lat muscle (the one that makes the wing span on gymnists) attaches to the hips and also to your arms. It is a principle player in pulling your shoulder down to allow for clear arm movement. You could also continue to stretch your hamstrings and do your abdominal work. If you are already doing these exercises it help to just plug into your rhythm. Let me know if you don't have these exercises. They have been listed in many of the posts but I can certainly post them again. Repetition, ahhhh a woman favorite. Vik

What's REALLY frustrating is that I just had 3 days of almost 0 pain and then starting last night it's slowly creeping back in. Nothing extreme but there's slight pain. I just do not get it. I haven't done anything. No pain for 3 days and then it starts to come back?:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

Ok Curtis, It's time to start the rehab again. Healing is tricky and it's not uncommon for people to have this sensation. Take it easy and start with the isometric application for a couple of days and then add the bands. The lat work is critical to keep your joint freely allowing for movement. Give me a little detail on the way the pain came back in and is it the same sensation and is it in exactly the same location. I'll try to check in tomorrow around noon. Vickie

I know I'm going to sound crazy but the pain is gone again. Not sure if it's just in my head or what, but it seems like when I don't take ibuprofen it acts up a bit. Is is ok to wait a few more days or should I do the exercises with no bands. I'm just worried I'm going to make it worse again.