In recent years, the shoulder has begun to rival the lower back as the top pain point for active people. Why? Partly due to how the shoulder is constructed, but plenty more is just about us—how we train, how we take care of ourselves, and how we position our bodies in the modern world. 

I'll be blunt: We, the lifters and athletes, aren't doing ourselves any favors in the way we warm up, train, and care for the shoulder. That's why the first step is to alert you to what you're doing that might not be helping your situation. Then we'll learn some pain-free alternatives to popular lifts and see how to put it all into action in your training.

This is the guide you need to get back to pain-free pushing, pulling, and living again!

Step 1: Stop Making Things Worse