The Real Reason CrossFit Athletes Get Shoulder Pain — And How to Fix It for Good
CrossFit Athletes and Shoulder Pain: A Denver PT’s Take
If you're a CrossFit athlete in Denver dealing with nagging shoulder pain, you're not alone and it’s almost never “impingement,” “tight lats,” or something you need to simply “rest.”
Shoulder pain in CrossFit is usually a movement problem, not a muscle problem.
As performance physical therapists at Power in Movement Physical Therapy & Performance, we help Denver athletes uncover the real root cause behind their pain so they can train at a high level again..without endless rest or basic PT sheets.
Why CrossFit Shoulders Hurt (It’s Not What You Think)
1. Poor Scapular Movement Availability During Overhead Movements
Overhead lifts demand upward rotation, posterior tilt, and smooth scapular glide.
If your shoulder blade isn’t moving well, your rotator cuff is doing way too much work.
2. Limited Ribcage Mobility
If your upper back doesn’t extend well, you’ll compensate by:
arching your low back
flaring your ribs
pressing forward instead of upward
All of these overload the shoulder.
3. Strength Imbalances Between Push + Pull
We often see CrossFit athletes with strong pressing strength but weak:
serratus
external rotators
lower trap
mid-back stabilizers
These are essential for overhead stability.
The Fix: Performance-Based Physical Therapy
Unlike traditional PT, we don’t just give you bands and call it a day.
We analyze how you:
kip
press
snatch
jerk
handstand
overhead squat
Then we create a plan that actually fits your training demands.
Your Next Step — Get a Denver Performance Diagnostic
If you’re tired of shoulder pain affecting your training, our $99 Performance Diagnostic will help you identify the root cause and build a plan that gets you back to full volume confidently.
