This is the story of a carpenter and lifelong swimmer in his 70’s who turned months of shoulder pain into real, day-to-day strength. He went from using his forearms to push himself off the floor to comfortably lifting heavy sheets of plywood and getting back to swimming that felt natural again. His progress came from consistent, targeted exercises for shoulder pain and guidance focused only on the shoulder.

Before He Started

He worked 20 hours a week as a carpenter. Just before Christmas, getting up from floor-level work hurt so much that he couldn’t use his hands to push himself up—he had to use his forearms. Swimming, which he loved, felt off too: his arm was “heavy and clumsy.” Reaching overhead made his right shoulder hike up. There was “clunking” in the back of the shoulder and frequent catching when he lifted and lowered his arm.

He tried anti-inflammatories. He also tried physical therapy for shoulder pain, but the exercises he was given didn’t feel right or lead to real change. He knew he needed someone who really understood the shoulder.

Finding the Right Help

Within days of saying to his wife that he needed a shoulder specialist, he saw one of Dr. Joey’s videos on YouTube and reached out. That shoulder-specific approach made sense to him right away.

Early on, he discovered that the Cuban press was “spot on with exactly where the problem was” in his shoulder. Using a mirror helped him see and correct his right shoulder from lifting during overhead reach. He also worked on the open book (side-lying) and snow angel variations to restore motion. As he put it, the program didn’t deliver instant change, but over the first few weeks the difference became obvious.

What We Did Together

• We dialed in the Cuban press to pinpoint and retrain the exact weak link, especially the controlled drop and lift of the arm.
• Used a mirror so he could keep the right shoulder down while reaching overhead.
• Opened up motion with the side-lying open book and progressed to snow angels.
• Layered in a couple of strength exercises to rebuild support around the shoulder blade and back.

He stayed consistent, doing the work daily. He noticed the catching that used to make him “wince” during movement faded away. Swimming started to feel comfortable and natural again. Overall, “the whole back of the shoulders… is just moving more freely.”

Results

• Work capacity: He kept his 20-hour workweeks and even took on extra projects at home and for neighbors.
• Lifting: He lifted 8×4 sheets of plywood and a couple of fire doors without real discomfort—much better than it had felt in a long time.
• Pain with movement: Getting from the floor to standing no longer triggered the same pain; the catching during lifting and lowering the arm improved immensely.
• Swimming: His stroke felt natural again instead of heavy and clumsy.
• Mechanics and mobility: His right shoulder now stays down during overhead reach. There’s “nice freedom of movement,” and the shoulder looks more structured and moves more freely.

What He’d Tell Others

He believes there’s always a way out—if you have the right tools. For him, the difference was a shoulder-focused plan, clear guidance, and doing it every day. Progress wasn’t instant, but it added up. As he said, “It’s exactly what I needed… it just needs the right guidance.”

If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, shoulder pain when lifting an arm, or looking for real shoulder pain relief, his journey is a reminder that the right, shoulder-specific exercises for shoulder pain—and steady commitment—can bring you back to the work and activities you love.