If overhead movements like presses, snatches, or even simple reach-ups keep giving you that sharp pinch or lingering ache in the shoulder… yeah, that’s frustrating. Most of the athletes I work with don’t have pain all day — it only shows up when the arm goes above shoulder level. There’s always a reason for that.
Let’s break down the most common causes.
The shoulder blade needs to rotate upward and glide smoothly when you reach overhead. When it gets restricted or weak in certain angles, you lose that smooth rhythm — and the shoulder joint starts taking the hit.
You don’t need a bodybuilder rotator cuff. You need a snappy, reactive, stable rotator cuff — one that can control the humeral head and keep it centered as the arm moves. If it isn’t doing that well? Overhead lifts feel sketchy.
A flared rib cage, stiff mid-back, or limited breathing mechanics can totally change the angle of the shoulder and compress structures that should glide.
Most people never think about this, but your thoracic spine and rib mechanics are HUGE players in shoulder comfort.
A lot of athletes stretch endlessly, assume their shoulders are “tight,” and wonder why nothing changes. For many, the problem isn’t flexibility — it’s control under load.
Most people don’t want to stop lifting, golfing, climbing, or swimming. They want their shoulders to move well so they can keep doing the things they love. This is exactly the type of shoulder issue that responds extremely well to a blended approach — mobility, soft tissue work, adjustments, dry needling, and specific strength work.
If overhead movements have been giving you grief lately, swing by Highland Spine + Sport. I’ll help you figure out the root cause and build a plan to get your shoulder moving clean and pain-free again.