Odd deadlift injury (clavicle area pop)

[2011holidayschedule]

Hi, coach. Holiday boy reporting in.

Last night, I was on my "work set" of deadlifts (440x1x5), and on my last repetition I heard a distinct pop which came from my right clavicle region, followed by a dull discomfort and building pain.

I put the bar down, and stopped with the lifts entirely. The pain is flared when I rotate my arm, I feel it when the arm goes above my head, and I also, strangely enough, feel it when driving my car. I drive a manual shift, and shifting flares it up.

What the hell did I pop/pull? It's not painful enough to limit my arm's mobility, more of a strong dullness really, but it's definitely bothersome. I've never even heard of this kind of deadlift injury.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Can't see well enough from here to know. Maybe you should get it looked at by someone who can actually examine you.

[2011holidayschedule]

Have you encountered this kind of injury before from deadlifts?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Nope. At least if it happened, no one previously has been worried enough about it to complain. I'm truly sorry that it bothers you, but everything heals. You'll probably be okay.

[2011holidayschedule]

I'm not worried, I'm more curious about the mechanics of what happened.

Thanks for the input.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I'm very mildly curious too. When you find out, let us know. I can't help because, as you know, I'm not there.

[Luke S]

I remember reading on Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy that the subclavius muscle prevents the clavicle from subluxating during activities similar to a tug-of-war (i.e. heavy pulling). I will see if I find anything else on this.

[2011holidayschedule]

I had to look up the Subclavius muscle, but that appears to be precisely my "ouch" zone.