rookie shoulder pain

[Crazyhorse]

I am 43 and I have just started throwing the Javelin last week.

I converted from Sprints to throws this year and I am concentrating on Discus and Javelin.

I ahve been throwing the discus without problems all season, but I have only had three brief sessions with the Jav.

I am getting a dull ache in my deltoid/bicep head area during and after throwing the Javelin.

I think the reasons may be as follows:

1. Although I was well warmed up generally from an earlier discus session, I did not do any specific warm up throws with teh Javlein - I just went for it immediately- hence the nickname "Crazyhorse" which a teammate gave me!.

2. It may also be partly down to timing. I was trying to apply maximum acceleration - and thus force - to the Javelin from the point from the furthest point behind my shoulder - I now think from paracising with a ball that I should not be applying maimum accleration until the implement is vertical over the plane of the shoulder at the earliest.

3. I am fit, reasonably fast and basically strong. My mobility is reasonable.

Does any of this make sense to anyone and can you advise please on how to avoid this problem?

[SCater]

could be due to your not actually used to holding your arm in the throw position + its an unnatural action....

i have new throwers say they have aches in the areas you pointed out but after a few sessions it goes, as your body gets used to holding your arm up in the throwing stance. keep up with the training but take it easy.

this is just a suggestion...you know your body better than anyone else, if it dont feel right stop and get it looked at.

hope this helps alittle
Sam C

[Crazyhorse]

Thanks for the advice.

I don't think there is a fundemental problem wiyth my shoulder as I used to be a pole vaulter also and you need to ahve a strong shoulder to maintain the top hand as you engage the box.

I suspect it is a questiion of getting used to the timing of the throw - I have a tendency to try to deliver the discus too quickly and I need to get teh Javelin rythm right too.

I supsect I also need to warm the shoulder up porely with a few sub maximal effort throws to begin with and not try to go for the max from the outset.

Any further advice gratefully recived though please as I am commited now having just bought a Nemeth Standard 50M!

[Administrator]

One suggestion would be to throw a ball or object of some sort into the discus net for a few minutes. Go throught the actions you would in the javelin but not as fast. This will be sure to prepare your arm before throwing, it has eased the pain in my elbow incredibly this season.

[JB]

hi crazyhorse sorry for the late responce on this one. i started throwing this year and had the exact same pain as you described in in my arm. i got physio on the injury and some advice from other throwers and essentially the problem was i was releasing the javelin incorrectly. my arm was coming round the side and not over the top as it should. i found the best way to sort this out was to repeat the correct action with a weighted 800g ball into a net until i had the action nailed. it was a serious problem for me often leaving my arm really tired and feeling weak but after a few physio sessions and loads of drills its now fine. the drill i did is the one below. the link is on zelezny throwing into a net not only will it get you arm sorted but it will also help you develope you foot turn and get your hips into the throw. the important thing to look at in the clip is the elbow. notice the height the elbow as it comes through and the that is bent using the tricep to flick over the top. the elbows high and above the shoulder line, may seem obvious but many thowers dont do this and instead 'straight arm' it round the side

www.geocities.com/jabalina_2y/JANPULL_F.html

hope this helps

[GJenson]

If you'r new to the jav don't forget the rotator cuff - 3 small muscles at the back of the shoulder under the anterior deltoid - check out the main page of this site & look at Dr Mark Fletchers article on shoulder health. I have a 20 exercise circuit for the shoulders I obtained a few years ago by MF which is an absolute MUST for ALL throwers to do to prevent any problems in the future. I will post it soon when I have the time!

[Aaronh]

i have been throwing for 2-3 years now and still get the same pain. maybe i am throwing with the wrong technique, but i think it is mostly due to the amount of effort i put in. When i put more effort in, over and over again, i gradually start to feel the pain increasing in my arm.
my thoughts are that maybe you are doing too much for your body to cope or that you are using the wrong technicque??
i will be intereseted to see what your results are coz i think it is due to the amount of effort i put into my throws

[Mack]

Hi all,

I think the main problem with some people and the shoulder pain that runs from the deltoid (front side) down in to the bicept, is that they are not flexable enough.

For those of you who have started in the last couple of months, (generaly) the flexability isn't there and thus throwing the jav, the arm comes around and not over the top.

I help Aaron (if you can call it coaching) and he needs to work on the flexabilty of his shoulder and arm, he is putting too much force and power in to the throw with an arm that doesn't want to go over the shoulder.
(Don't worry Aaron... we will get that this winter)

I suppose it's like doing a snatch and swinging the bar with your back and not using the legs. It will hurt after a while if you don't do it right.

Anyway... just one last thing.

When warming up, put the jav in the ground and grasp the jav the highest you can. Now pull down on the jav (as if to pull it in to the ground)

Try this with putting the elbow inside and outside the jav. The more you can stretch the are and shoulder, the easier it will feel to throw over the top.

Sorry it's late, and hope it helps.

[GJenson]

If the pain you decribe is at the top of your bicep you need to stop doing any direct or indircet weights bicep training now, it could become serious. This means no curls, lat pull-downs or even throwing the discus. The problem could be related to inflexabilty in the shoulder region, as already mentioned by other members. One of the two biceps tendons runs right up the humerus, over the shoulder joint and inserts behind the shoulder in the scapular area (shoulder blade). My advice would be get some physio & get stretching big time! Good luck!