Starting to train after shoulder surgery

[klir_2m]

I have a friend, 38 year old male, who has been sedentary since his 20s, looking to get into weight training. He first had an arthroscopy and rotator cuff repair surgery about a year ago on his right shoulder, and had a second surgery on it June 24 this year.

Whenever he does a pressing motion with his arm it pops, says it feels like it's about to hurt until it pops. When he raises it laterally, it grinds.

I want to start him on the basic Starting Strength program. My feeling is that doing it properly and starting off with light weights will only improve his situation but he asked me to post this question here for a second opinion. I am worried though about doing heavy presses weeks/months from now. So any advice would be appreciated.

[Mark Rippetoe]

By the time he's capable of actually doing heavy presses, this question will be moot. Just get him up off his ass, for God's sake.

[MAD9692]

Why is it that the laziest people, that never work out- are always the ones that have the most questions?

[klir_2m]

Why is it that the laziest people, that never work out- are always the ones that have the most questions?

Er, it's a pretty legitimate question if you ask me. The guy's had two surgeries on his shoulder, one of them only a few months ago, and has every right to be concerned about the possibility of re-injuring it and requiring another surgery. If I didn't think it was absolutely critical to get the right answer I would have posted the question elsewhere.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I don't think he meant that the question wasn't legit. I just wonder along with him about why so many questions are often asked about training by people who are "going to start soon".

[Steve Hill]

Here's a corollary question: Why do people hire a coach and then question everything he tells them to do? I mean, I can understand giving him a grilling BEFORE you hire them, but after? Don't you trust your own hiring decisions?

[quadancer]

I'd be concerned myself if it were me, and I'd want professional (lifter) advice. And I'd be reading everything I could get my hands on regarding rehab work.

Originally Posted by MAD9692
"Why is it that the laziest people, that never work out- are always the ones that have the most questions?"

My favorites are the ones who see a jacked guy, come up and ask "Where do you work out?" as if they knew anything about local gyms, or the infamous "How much do you bench" as if that were the measure of strength.