Uneven elbows in the squat?

[Kregna]

I know inflexible shoulders/arms/whatever is common and lots of people have asked about it here but I couldn't find anything relevant to me when I searched (before you say search).

When I squat, one elbow (my right) rises up higher than my other, but my wrists are straight. I try really focusing on not letting this happen but as soon as I get to my 2nd warm up weight, or so, I really can't do it for some reason. Here's a picture of my 1st and 5th squats in a recent set (see how position even changes during a set?)

1st rep:


5th rep:


I've just come back from being ill so am taking a light week anyway. Now seems like the perfect time to get this sorted. Is this caused by an inflexible shoulder? If so, which one? I've been trying shoulder dislocations with a light, cheap barbell I have at home but it doesn't seem to be helping

Cheers

Edit: Now that I see the pics together, actually, they look very similar lol

Also I should mention I've tried widening the grip but it becomes even more pronounced then

[gtl]

Hey! Where'd you get that picture of me squatting? Ha.

No, but seriously. I have somewhat of the same issue. Always have, and probably always will. I think its part shoulder external rotation differences and part stability. I've been given a technical description before, but can never remember.

[Kregna]

Ah interesting! Who were you given a description by? Someone on the forum, a doctor or someone else? I wouldn't care if it were just aesthetics but it actually hurts my elbows lol

[gtl]

Ah interesting! Who were you given a description by? Someone on the forum, a doctor or someone else? I wouldn't care if it were just aesthetics but it actually hurts my elbows lol

My gym (IFAST http://indianapolisfitnessandsportstraining.com/)

I don't have any pain from it, though. If i did, I would probably move to high bar and really crank my elbows up.

[Kregna]

Hmm so you don't have any suggestions? I don't wanna squat high bar, especially if it wouldn't help get this fixed

[PFerrari]

Hmm so you don't have any suggestions? I don't wanna squat high bar, especially if it wouldn't help get this fixed

How does it affect your squat? Do you have trouble keeping the bar in place?

I would recommend doing extra mobility work on the less flexibile shoulder. Check out Mobility WOD and play with some of those.

[KAG]

As long as you don't have any trouble keeping the bar in place, don't worry about it. But if you do occasionally have a problem with the bar sliding up or down, then this is most likely the cause and needs to be addressed.

[Simma Park]

It's might just be inflexibility in something at the front of the shoulder. Dislocations won't necessarily help this unless there's a lot of chest involvement in the inflexibility. Google "anterior shoulder stretches" or something like that. There are many common stretches for this area.

[Michele Knaub]

What spar said. Mobilize the shoulders and the pec on the affected side.

[gtl]

For what its worth, I stretch my pecs and mobilize both my T-spine and shoulders. And have for long enough that I know its not the main culprit in my case.

The higher the reps, the more exaggerated it becomes by the end of the set. The bar doesn't move up or down on my back, but the ends move forward or behind if anything.

Let me see if I can get the explanation tonight. I've addressed it in the past, and given up on it when I just wanted to squat.