Injuries to the chest (specifically to the pec major tendon) are one of, if not the, most common among lifters barring stuff like non-specific lower back pain that basically everyone gets from time to time.
Trouble is, the vast majority are avoidable had the lifter made better decisions.
Like, for example:
* Not abusing anabolic steroids or lying about the nature and extent of their low T symptoms to their doctor to get TRT because they are some combination of too lazy to train properly and so vain they need to ape the image of a comic book superhero to prop up their pitiful self esteem. (A quick Google reveals multiple studies that indicate taking testosterone, whether via TRT or what Johnny Juicehead brewed in his bathtub, weakens the tendons making them more prone to rupture).
* Investing bountiful time and energy building a thick, strong back (to prevent tightening of the pec tendon from rounding of the shoulders) and a solid base of overhead pressing strength (thereby strengthening the delts to reduce some of the load on the tendon while benching).
* Avoiding exercises like ultra-wide grip bench presses that appear good on paper but skew the risk:reward ratio woefully in favour of the former.
* Taking a more relaxed attitude towards adding weight to the bar (i.e. only doing it when they are dominating their current work weights and increasing the load by the smallest possible increment).
* Bench pressing using the form described in February’s issue of “The Phil Tyreman Letter” and sending me a video to critique, asking me to film a detailed instructional video, or both if they feel they need further advice.
If you’d like February’s issue to make good on that last bullet point, you will have to subscribe before the deadline (31/1 at 23:59).
Please visit the below-linked immediately if you are interested to learn more:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/information/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman