Here’s the situation: I’m 25 and starting to get back into shape. Throughout high school, I was relatively fit, doing about an hour of bodyweight exercises at home or at a friend’s place, along with participating in drumline, which kept me steady. However, during my senior year, I broke my collarbone and had to get a plate and seven screws to repair it. Since then, I’ve been really hesitant to try push-ups or pull/chin-ups because I’m worried about the stress it could put on my clavicle. Now, I’m trying to get back into exercising at home (I’m not a fan of the gym) and want to rebuild my muscle strength. Does anyone have any advice on whether it’s safe for me to start doing push-ups or pull-ups again? Or any other tips for working those same muscle groups? Thanks in advance!
Hey! I was in a car accident in 2015 and had to get a steel plate and five screws in my clavicle. I gradually worked my way up to push presses, starting with push-ups. It felt a little uncomfortable when I first began, but that was six weeks after the accident, and my doctor had cleared me for weight-bearing. I just thought my skin would be the most sensitive, and she was right. I’m doing well, and I think you’ll be okay too! It still twinges if I put a backpack strap on incorrectly, but it mostly feels like a pinching of the skin between the plate and whatever load I’m carrying, rather than the actual bone. As long as you’re not putting excessive pressure on the bone while pressing, you should be fine! Let us know how it goes!