I think years of desk sitting at home and at work has affected my shoulder mobility and made my hamstrings tight.

If I rotate my arm while straightened so that my hand moves from down by my side, and up in a circle in front of me, and then upwards I have real difficultly getting my arm straight up so it's in line with my ear. In the reverse direction I can't raise it much more than a horizontal position behind me. I don't have pain while doing this, though the stretch is 'almost' painful for some positions and exercises I do, more than perhaps is normal? I'm not sure, but the stretch feels different somehow. However, raising the arms up and down with the arms horizontally away from my sides (i.e. as if I was doing lateral raises) (using a different joint action of course) is fine with no problems.

I'm just wondering if people have similar experiences and if they have more information about this issue.

Thank you,
Richard

I think years of desk sitting at home and at work has affected my shoulder mobility and made my hamstrings tight.

If I rotate my arm while straightened so that my hand moves from down by my side, and up in a circle in front of me, and then upwards I have real difficultly getting my arm straight up so it's in line with my ear. In the reverse direction I can't raise it much more than a horizontal position behind me. I don't have pain while doing this, though the stretch is 'almost' painful for some positions and exercises I do, more than perhaps is normal? I'm not sure, but the stretch feels different somehow. However, raising the arms up and down with the arms horizontally away from my sides (i.e. as if I was doing lateral raises) (using a different joint action of course) is fine with no problems.

I'm just wondering if people have similar experiences and if they have more information about this issue.

Thank you,
Richard

Yeah, I've got shoulder mobility problems also, but it sounds like yours might be worse than mine. Do you have trouble doing squats? I used to have to stretch my shoulders uncomfortably when doing squats.

One issue might be a muscular imbalance...that, once corrected, might restore some of your mobility. Gordo posted an interesting link (in another thread) that allows a quick test for this, and suggests corrective action. Usually increasing your horizontal rowing and decreasing horizontal pushing/vertical pulling.

http://www.mindandmuscle.net/mindandmuscle/print/printview.php?artID=41

Thanks Joe!

I'll check that link out after work..