I done bought me some dangle-hoops

[wafter]

More passive dangling today.

The headliner was that I managed a 20-second single-arm hang on each side, which is double what was achieved last time. This also elicted some pops and cracks from my neck that hadn't been released by the earlier side-hangs, while my knackered shoulder felt so much better afterwards (I think more due to the general stretch than the areas that cracked specifically).

This seems to do just as good as / a better job at stretching everything than the side-hangs I was doing so I think I'll stick to these now

 

[Webbo2]

You may actually be doing damage to your shoulder by just hanging or do you try to engage the shoulder muscles by attempting to pull up. Hanging fully extended on the joint is a big no no in rock climbing, even when hanging on both arms.

 

[wafter]

You may actually be doing damage to your shoulder by just hanging or do you try to engage the shoulder muscles by attempting to pull up. Hanging fully extended on the joint is a big no no in rock climbing, even when hanging on both arms.

Thanks - that's interesting and I wasn't aware of that - a lot of (non-rock climbing) sources I've seen promote fully-passive / relaxed hangs (yeah, I'm aware of the potential folly of believing what one reads on the internet).

In the past with the two-handed hangs I've done a mixture of passive transitioning into active hangs (by engaging the scapula and shoulders to pull myself up towards the bar) however ironically this sometimes causes the niggly shoulder to complain, while the totally passive hangs give no discomfort and just a really pleasant stretch.

Usually the relief from the shoulder pain is instant and removes maybe 80% of the discomfort - almost completely eliminating it in some directions of movement and making it a lot less unpleasant in others - perhaps because it's a trapped nerve and the stretch is temporarily opening the joint up. I'm not sure that it's having any positive effect long-term and doesn't seem to be recovering despite avoiding the exercises that really cause problems (typically stuff that loads the shoulder up behind the main plain of the body).

After reading your post I did do a bit more research with some sites suggesting some level of engagement in the shoulders so will try this and see how I get on next time.

It's been like it for months now so I probably ought to get it looked at..

 

[Webbo2]

I take it you are male. Which in its self is a risk of rotor cuff damage. I say this as I have had tendons repaired in both shoulders and the surgeon informed that mens shoulder tendons can deteriorate without any significant injure.
With my right shoulder which I had repaired 2 years ago I was having some discomfort but it didn’t some me doing things. I choose a conservative approach seeing a physio ay first however when I was unable to do some of the exercises she recommended mainly shoulder press type things. She recommended getting a scan or seeing a shoulder consultant.
Turned I had some major tears in the tendons and very significant arthritic damage.
So I would suggest getting it seem sooner rather than later.

 

[wafter]

Thanks; maybe I'll add it to the growing list of complaints for the doctor's visit I keep putting off..