weights on shoulders causing dizziness

[hopefull]

Any suggestions for this problem. When I place weights on my shoulders I begin to feel dizzy. I can tolerate it for about a minute, and then I have to remove the weights I become so uncomfortable. There is no pain involved, just a dizzy nauseous feeling whenever I do any kind of exercise with weights resting on my shoulders. I have tried padding my weights with a towel,but this doesn't help. I usually just modify any exercise like lunges by holding the weights by my sides, but this limits the amount of weight I can use. MY shoulders and arms become very fatigued when I use heavy weights to do lunges this way. I have to stop because my arms are getting tired,not my legs. Do you have any idea why this could be happening, and if there is anything I can do about it?

Thanks!

 

[joanna33]

their are arteries in your neck" carotids". if these are inadvertently massaged; one can slow the heart rate down and drop blood pressure which can cause dizziness and nausea?[dizzy and nausea]. are u resting/rubbing dumbells on the side of your neck? just a thought? can you tolerate a barbell across your shoulders[no where near these arteries]? or are you dizzy with this approach too?

 

[kathryn]

Are you talking barbells or dumbells? If it's barbells, make sure the weight is down far enough to rest on your trapezius muscle, not on your neck itself. Your could also try holding the barbell in front of your shoulders, as Cathe shows for some plié squats, for some exercises.

If it's dumbbells, you can try my hold: when I hold dumbbells at shoulder height, I don't rest them on my shoulders (not because of dizziness, but because it hurts! They hit bone!). I grab the bells in a hammer grip position, then raise them to just in front of my shoulders and hold them there.

Depending on the exercise, you can also usually hold dumbbells down at your side.