Strained Latissimus Dorsi

Only by going off a diagram I found online I believe I strained my right latissimus dorsi. I can’t be 100% sure when it happened. I think from doing body weight pull up holds for 20 secs (from Strongman Template) that were supersetted with close grip bench. I really began to notice it the next training day doing 2" deficit stiff leg deadlifts (in lieu of doing the nordic curls) felt like my arm was pulling out of socket.

The pain isn’t really terrible I don’t really notice it too much during my regular day to day. It gets a little tender when trying to train. I was able to do midshin block pulls fine and OHP’s with a faint twinge, but when I tried to do the pull up holds again i couldn’t even last 1/2 a second so I switched from those to lat pulldowns which were a little bothersome but was able to get through them tolerably.
I was able to deadlift to about my normal weight and the lifting part wasn’t too bad but the setting it down is when I was feeling it. And I could not pendlay row at all.

I’m not too concerned since the pain isn’t that bad during my day to day and i can find ways to train tolerably. However my concern is it feels like i’m holding a small ball in my arm pit and I’m wondering if that’s something I should be concerned about?

Hey Brian,

Sorry to hear about the discomfort. I know that’s frustrating, for sure. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what to make of it from here and I’d need to know a lot more about what’s going on before making a recommendation. I think that’s beyond the scope of a forum post, and likely best done via a consultation. If that’s something you’re interested in, shoot us an email at support@barbellmedicine.com.

It’s definitely a good sign that it’s not bothering you too much and you can find ways to stay active…I just can’t say anything definitively from here.

-Jordan

Thanks Jordan. I’ll probably give it another week or two and see how things progress. And if it doesn’t improve I will definitely do a consult. I did one once before a couple years ago for siatic nerve pain that really helped.