So, this has been going on for a couple weeks. When doing lat pulldowns, I get this strange "feeling" in my left lat at the top, just behind my armpit.

It feels like if you make a fist and scrape your knuckles across your opposite palm? Does that make sense. That is what it feels like the muscle is doing on the way back up. It seems to happen mostly if I go up too fast.

The "pain" isn't bad just uncomfortable?

Ideas Doctor(s)?:confused: :confused:

Try warming up real thoroughly and stretching it prior to the set. ExRx has some good lat stretches.

At what point in the set does it happen: the initial concentric, initial eccentric, end of the concentric, end of the eccentric, during the stretch, at the peak contraction, or all throughout?

Try warming up real thoroughly and stretching it prior to the set. ExRx has some good lat stretches.

At what point in the set does it happen: the initial concentric, initial eccentric, end of the concentric, end of the eccentric, during the stretch, at the peak contraction, or all throughout?

It is when I allow the weight to go back up -- extending my arms up. It mostly happens if I go up too fast.

How does one stretch the lats?

Stretches are in the right column: http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/BackWt.html

Try slowing down that negative then, take 2-3 seconds to do it.

Stretches are in the right column: http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/BackWt.html

Try slowing down that negative then, take 2-3 seconds to do it.

Thanks for the help. Yesterday was back day and I strectched the muscle really well prior to lifting and made sure to take longer on the negative.

Much better!!!

I really wasn't stretching/warming up properly and I've decided to take some additional time to do so (on all muscle groups) to prevent getting really hurt in the future!!!

So, this has been going on for a couple weeks. When doing lat pulldowns, I get this strange "feeling" in my left lat at the top, just behind my armpit.

Sounds like you may have aggrevated the posterior deltoid, which is a precursor to the onset of supraspinatus impingement, a.k.a., rotator cuff impingement. It could be the insertion point of your rotator cuff yelling at you.

Try using very light, high rep lying lateral raises. Use the cable machine and do front lateral raises. I'm a big fan of those as they keep constant tension on the RC and help strengthen it.

Take two Aleve, relax, let it calm down. Pay attention to upper body form - concentrate on it, especially when any motions articulate the shoulder joint. If you feel any pain at all from here on out, get it checked. By all means, consider starting to use warm up and strengthening exercises for your upper body, rotator cuffs especially. This is NOT a problem to be taken lightly, even at this early stage. Trust me on that one...

-R

Sounds like you may have aggrevated the posterior deltoid, which is a precursor to the onset of supraspinatus impingement, a.k.a., rotator cuff impingement. It could be the insertion point of your rotator cuff yelling at you.

Try using very light, high rep lying lateral raises. Use the cable machine and do front lateral raises. I'm a big fan of those as they keep constant tension on the RC and help strengthen it.

Take two Aleve, relax, let it calm down. Pay attention to upper body form - concentrate on it, especially when any motions articulate the shoulder joint. If you feel any pain at all from here on out, get it checked. By all means, consider starting to use warm up and strengthening exercises for your upper body, rotator cuffs especially. This is NOT a problem to be taken lightly, even at this early stage. Trust me on that one...

-R


Thanks for the advice Roger. I am happy to report that with stretching the muscle before, after and the next day as well as taking the negative slower, I haven't had any other issues so far.

Let's all keep our fingers crossed.