Most people think shoulder presses have to be performed with the elbows straight out to the side. But if that position is painful, try pressing in the scapular plane—about 30–45° forward with a neutral grip. This position often: ✅ Reduces stress on the rotator cuff and subacromial tissues. ✅ Lets your shoulder blade move more naturally ✅ Feels much more comfortable for people with shoulder pain due to increasing the amount of space under the acromion Remember, this isn’t about avoiding the problem forever. It’s about finding a pain-tolerable variation so you can keep building strength while working on the underlying cause. Pain during exercise isn’t always a sign you have to stop—it usually means you need to modify. Have you ever tried this variation? #shoulderpain #physicaltherapy #shoulderrehab