Pec flys and shoulder injury

[DrCat2010]

Hi Cathe,

I was doing pec flys with 25-lb dumbbells and didn't feel any pain while I was doing them but the next day I could hardly move my right arm or shoulder, and my entire neck, right side of my back, right side of my chest, and right abs had shooting pain to the point where I could hardly walk. I am better now, so didn't go to the doctor, but was wondering if doing pec flys like this could cause such an extensive injury? Do you think I could have injured my brachial plexus just doing pec work? If so, do you have any form pointers so that I can prevent such an injury in the future?

Thanks and hope you're having (or had) a great Valentine's Day! :9

Holly

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Holly! I'm glad to hear the pain went away. There is no way to know if flys actually brought this on since it appears to be an isolated incident. If this were to happen every time you did flys, then I would investigate it further.

I have heard of people mildly straining this region when lifting and looking sideways at the same time (ie: trying to watch themselves in a mirror that is perhaps to the left or right of them, or look to the side and talk to somebody while in the widest part of the fly). If you want to be conservative while doing your flys, only open your arms to the point where your elbow is just shy of being level with your shoulder.

Good Luck.