Strength Training After Shoulder Pain in Little Rock: Breaking a Plateau Without Re-Injury

Background

This client, in their late 30s, came in already in great physical shape but frustrated. Despite consistent training, they had hit a performance plateau and were dealing with ongoing shoulder pain, especially during chest training.

They had already undergone one shoulder surgery and were beginning to experience elbow pain as well without a clear understanding of why. Their concern wasn’t motivation or effort. It was whether continued training would lead to progress or more setbacks.

They were looking for:

  • Expert guidance beyond generic programming
  • Help resolving shoulder and elbow pain
  • A way to train hard without breaking down

All sessions took place in a private clinic setting in Little Rock, away from traditional gyms.


Initial Movement & Strength Assessment

The initial assessment focused on shoulder stability, movement quality, and exercise execution rather than workload alone.

Findings included:

  • Shoulder instability contributing to pain during chest-focused movements
  • Technique breakdown during specific upper-body lifts
  • Programming gaps that limited progress despite high effort

The assessment also revealed how compensations at the shoulder were likely contributing to the secondary elbow pain, even though the elbow itself wasn’t injured.

This reinforced the need for technical correction and smarter intensity, not more volume.


Training Approach

Training focused on two parallel priorities: pain resolution and performance progression.

  1. Shoulder Stability & Pain Reduction
  2. Elbow Pain Resolution
  3. Programming for Results

Results

Outcomes included:

  • Resolution of shoulder pain during chest training
  • Elimination of elbow pain
  • Renewed progress after a training plateau
  • Improved confidence in how to train independently

Most importantly, results continued despite significant life stress, demonstrating that intelligent programming matters as much as effort.


Client Reflection

“I am leaving the area but Jeremy has been the best trainer I ever had. I wish I had more time to train with him. I have recommended him to everyone I know. I plan on still seeing him when I travel through Little Rock for check in sessions.”


Why This Story Matters

For adults who train hard, pain and plateaus are often blamed on age or effort. In reality, they’re more often caused by instability, technical breakdown, or programming gaps.

This case highlights how:

  • Assessment-first training prevents re-injury
  • Proper form can resolve joint pain without stopping progress
  • Smart intensity leads to better results, not burnout

Looking for Strength Training After Shoulder Pain in Little Rock?

If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, elbow discomfort, or stalled progress, a movement and strength assessment can identify what’s holding you back before pain becomes another injury.

Private strength training in a clinic setting allows for progress without unnecessary risk.

Strength Training for Adults Over 40 in Little Rock: A Long-Term Health Success Story

Background

This client, a 45-year-old adult in Little Rock, came in looking for private strength training away from traditional gyms. Their goals were not extreme or short-term. They wanted to build healthy habits, gain muscle, and protect their body long term especially while using weight loss medication as part of their health journey.

More importantly, they were concerned about:

  • Body health and longevity
  • Managing depression through movement
  • Avoiding re-injury
  • Working with an expert who could individualize training

They specifically wanted a private, professional setting with guidance focused on sustainability, not intensity for intensity’s sake.


Initial Movement Assessment

During the initial movement assessment at the clinic in Little Rock, it became clear that this client had a strong foundation. However, time away from consistent activity, previous injuries, and high work-related stress had created noticeable imbalances.

The assessment revealed:

  • Strength differences on the previously injured side
  • Decreased range of motion in the ankle, hip, spine, and shoulder on that side
  • Compensations that would increase injury risk if ignored

This confirmed the importance of an assessment-first approach rather than jumping straight into generalized workouts.


Training Approach

Training was intentionally phased and progressed over time:

  1. Corrective Phase
  2. Consistency & Stamina Phase
  3. Core & Stability Phase
  4. Strength & Muscle Building Phase

This process has now been ongoing for over 14 months, with continued progress and evolving goals a true example of long-term strength development rather than short-term fixes.


Results So Far

While the focus was never rapid transformation, outcomes have included:

  • Improved movement quality
  • Balanced strength across both sides of the body
  • Increased stamina and confidence
  • A sustainable routine that supports both physical and mental health

Most importantly, the client continues to train consistently and safely.


Client Reflection

“Jeremy has changed my life in many ways. I was in search of help building a healthier lifestyle, improve depression, all with an expert. He has done so in many ways. I knew from the start his style of training and programming was perfect for my needs.”


Why This Matters

For adults over 40, especially those managing stress, past injuries, or major lifestyle changes, private strength training can provide a structured and safe path forward.

This story reflects the value of:

  • Individualized programming
  • Gradual, intentional progress
  • Training designed for long-term health

Considering Private Strength Training in Little Rock?

If you’re looking for professional, assessment-based strength training in Little Rock, especially in a private clinic setting, starting with a movement assessment can help determine the safest and most effective path forward.

“My mom started to work with Jeremy after a long recovery from a hip and pelvis fracture. It was a long recovery process and we were not sure how she would regain her strength and be able to move on her own again. She is now back walking around her home all on her own!”

This client came to Blueprint Training and Injury Prevention after months of recovery from a serious fall and broken bones. She had no strength left after losing 30-35lbs and not being able to get out of bed for months. She struggled to stand from a seated position, walked very slowly with a walker, and it was difficult to do any daily movements to pick things up or carry them.

Six months later she can now pull 70-80lbs. She can pick up weight while standing and move weight overhead like she needs to while at home. She can walk around her house without a walker AT ALL. She can do some light cardio outside her home while using her walker. She not only can stand again on her own but she can also squat with 15-20lbs of weight. While gaining her strength back her balance has improved and has gained some of her weight back as well.

Ideally we like when clients are proactive and making progress prior to falls and injuries but seeing this client’s progress after falling and months of recovery has been very special to see!

“I have worked with many trainers in the past and had many bad experiences. Jeremy takes the time to work with me, explain what and why we are doing things, and I am very pleased with the progress we continue to make.”

This client came to Blueprint Training and Injury Prevent as a referral from another current client. When we met for their assessment I could not believe some of the stories they had about previous trainers. Things like only doing upper body machines, never working on lower body, double scheduling clients during sessions, and even sometimes just being handed a piece of paper and then told to go workout alone.

This is not the style of personal training our clients receive. Of course, it depends on the clients needs and goals but we always involve the whole body, make sure the client receives personal attention the whole session, and we value every client’s time to make sure they progress appropriately.

“Jeremy really customizes everything to your needs. The warm ups, workouts, assessments, flexible scheduling, even the music during sessions. He really makes it easy to get in a routine and start working out again.”

This awesome review came from a client that had multiple poor experiences trying to make life changes. They tried crossfit boxes, commercial gyms, and other trainers. For multiple different reasons they never worked out and things right back to how they were and even once they were injured.

Now they trusted me during the assessment process and have trained with me at my clinic for over a year. They have never missed a workout. They even now added an extra day to their routine working out alone since they have learned enough during our sessions. This was always one of their goals so of course one of mine was to get them confident to workout alone.

“Since working with Jeremy I am now seeing definition in my arms and legs I haven’t seen in 10-20 years.”

All of my personal training clients have different fitness goals but one of my favorite things is when a client comes in with a smile and tells me about how their bodies are changing.

I start EVERY session with questions about how was their day, how was their weekend, how does their body feel, any soreness/tightness/discomfort. Over time my newer personal training clients get a little confused when I repeatedly say “good” if they tell me they weren’t sore or very little soreness. They always follow up with questions like, “do we need to workout harder”, or “am I doing something wrong”, or “I thought I needed to feel sore”. I have to remind them that if we progress them properly we can avoid that miserable sore feeling, we can continue to make them feel stronger, and then we can begin to make body composition changes without training you at such a high level we make you feel miserable or burnt out just after a few months.

Simply by properly planning out how we are going to progressively overload a client personal trainers can help their clients be more consistent by making it easier on them and their bodies. This is why your personal trainer should know your hobbies, lifestyle, occupation, past experiences, medical history, and injury history as well.

“I was nervous to start working out with a personal trainer. In the past anytime I would workout my knee hurt, my low back hurt, and my neck would tweak. Jeremy took the time to focus our workouts on those areas for the first two months. He built my foundation and now we are working out focusing on my goals and I feel great after workouts.”

This was awesome to hear from my personal training client a few weeks ago (and that he was telling coworkers about it!). He came to me with the typical fitness goals and was ready mentally to get right into the workouts. He did have some concerns about how his body would feel since he stopped being active a few years ago and the reason he stopped was because he kept getting hurt.

I told him I would not allow that to happen this time. We were going to take our time while still making progress but all while making sure his body felt better and moved better before increasing any intensity variables. This took months and it is still a work in progress. Now though his body is more stable, doesn’t hurt after training sessions, and 2 days later he is always feel energized and ready for another workout.

I understand that people want to get right into the workouts that will get them the best results right away. But if you spend years not being active or if you spend years being active in 1 single activity your body can not just flip a switch and train at high intensities. We need to work together to unravel some of those weaknesses, tightness, imbalances, habits, ect. I promise it will feel better and then your “goal oriented” high intensity workouts will feel better too!

“I was able to go on vacation with my kids and had 0 back pain and never got tired or sore. We took a 12-13 hour flight, did a lot of walking, and daily we went on hikes in the mountains.”

This was an awesome success story from one of my personal training clients I have worked with for a little less than a year now.

This client did not have a weight loss goal, performance goal, strength goal, or muscle building goal. Their goal was, at 45 years old, to stop tweaking their back (pain/spasms), stop having random ankle injuries, stop having shoulder pain, and to just limit injuries as they age. With this type of goal we started personal training sessions with 3 days a week, then 2 days a week, to now 1 day a week and a few maintenance sessions. They do a great job of staying active on their own and at home so we can focus on the little things and a few things I can teach them to do on their own.

That is what I love doing with each client and why it is actually “personal training”. Physical activity can have many benefit and goals so together we figure out what you need and how I can help and build a plan from there!

“Less than two months working with Jeremy and I feel stronger, my posture has improved, I have lost 5lbs, and dropped a few pant sizes! I am so excited to keep building on the progress.”

This success story comes from a new personal training client who has only been reassed one time so far (2 months of working together). 

They were physically active prior to covid, but newer to resistance training sessions. Right away we were on the same page to start slow by building a very strong foundation prior to focusing on fitness goals. They fully committed to the small details and taking short steps in the beginning. 

We just now are ready to start transitioning out of what I consider the foundational phase. These are now when changes and fitness goals are suppose to actual start happening. But from this client’s commitment and focus as you can read they already started having progress. 

Now that we have all their new measurements after our first reassessment I am really excited to see how his body responds to workouts geared to making physical changes to his body. Our first goal was simply preparing his body to train, relieve any imbalance pain, and improve posture. Now it is time for us to get to work on his next goals! 

Jeremy is an amazing personal trainer. He first helped me reach my goal weight. Then he helped me build muscle. Now he has me feeling stronger. I never thought I would be in my 60s carrying 60lbs, squatting 50lbs, and pressing 40lbs!

This client came to me for personal training sessions wanting to lose a little weight but her main goal was actually to get over the fear of falling. She knew her balance was getting worse and her friends had all recently had significant falls leading to broken bones.

We took our time to first build her confidence moving and her balance in every day positions.

Then we focused on her weight loss to help alleviate some low back and knee pain.

Then for the last few months we changed the focus to making her stronger and her body more resilient (injury resistant).

She takes care of the details like showing up, regular walks outside, and nutrition. Now she is lifting weights 2-3 times a week and moving more weight than a lot of people I see daily at the gym.

Super impressive! Very proud to be her personal trainer.