Involuntary Chest Contraction

[bassist127]

Sorry if this has been discussed before or if the answer is obvious but...

For the past few months I've been having this strange problem with my chest. If reach back with either arms (or both) my chest contracts and pulls my arms/shoulders inward. I've looked in the mirror and it's mostly the top of the chest. Also, when you press slightly on the middle of my chest you can see the muslce on the outside flex and if you press the outside the inside flexes. It doesn't hurt really, it just feels strange. However if i move too quickly or do pushups too quickly it does.

Apparently I added three inches to my chest this past semester. This flexing thing all began around the time i started doing heavy weighted dips. I have a couple of ideas as to why this is happening. 1. I'm not drinking enough water. 2. I don't do as many chest exercises as before (i used to do a lot of different exercises each session, now its one maybe two). or 3. I'm not stretching enough/properly.

For a while this was just interesting but now I am planning on attending OCS this summer and I need to be able to do pushups without issues.

Does anyone know whats going on? Or has anyone experienced this? Thanks for your help.

[bassist127]

Nobody? Please help me out here.

[doobz0326]

Hey Man !

I am not a doc or PT but i have some personal experience with involuntary muscle contractions , (legs in my case)....
let me suggest a few "diagnostic treatments" based on what you are describing . the problem seems to be in your shoulders not your chest. the chest contracts because the tendons at the shoulders MAY BE fatigued or inflamed.

1. Look at your chest workout exercise form. are you feeling the burn more in your shoulders or chest? if it the shoulders , fatigue is possible.
2. drink alot more water for 3-5 days . you should be urinating a light light yellow or clear during this time... a dark or deep yellow color is a sign of dehyrdation . the darker the color the worse the dehydration. this will help relax your shoulders by giving them an abundance of water (aids cell regeneration can speed reversal of fatigue)
3. Are you on any supplements, stims can do funny things to joints

4. my remedy for 'spasms' medical term for involuntray muscle contractions
a. lots of water see above
b talk to a trainer about rehab stretches for the joints that directly influence the contracting muscle (my guess shoulders)
c. take a week off from all chest work (even daily heavy lifiting ..complete rest) .. do aabs instead.. see my workout for a great ass kicking abs routine
d. get a heating pad or Icy Hot. put one on your chest over teh affected muscles and one on each joint and lie still and let the heat do its work ....
e. if all this fails , you may have a more pronounced injury ....

Hope this helps
Marc (Doobz0326)

[jbrowncbr]

Does it always do this or only after a heavy chest or shoulder workout? Personally when I've had muscle spasms it's when I flex a muscle that has been heavily worked recently but from your description it sounds like your pecs are spasming when you stretch them? Do I understand correctly? What happens when you stretch your chest? Do you stretch before and after working out? Are you taking any supplements, specifically pro hormones or something similar? Weighted dips would work your upper chest/shoulders like your describing. I'd try going back to doing more of a variety of chest exercises on chest day, if you're only doing 2 you must really be killing those 2 exercises.