Does this sound familiar?
You’re training, playing sport, swinging a golf club or tennis racket… then it flares up. A frustrating tweak, pinch or nagging tightness in your shoulder.
So you take some time off to rest.
A few days or weeks go by.
Your symptoms start to fade.
”Maybe rest is helping?”
But the moment you return, that very same pain or tightness comes back in full force… stopping you mid set, mid rep, or game.
”What the hell?” – you think…
You rested. Gave it time.
So why does it still break down the second you push again?
This is called the “rest cycle”.
You’ve been told rest will help you, but this simple truth will horrify you…
HERE IS WHY (ADAM’S STORY)
I want to introduce you to Adam.
He spent a decade battling shoulder pain, tightness, and recurring flare ups.
He saw multiple physios.
Tried stretches.
Did the band drills.
And when nothing lasted, he defaulted to what everyone says: “Just rest it.”
Here’s what happened…
1) He got weaker
Adam became weaker with each rest cycle.
And every time he returned to training, he could tell his shoulders were getting less stable and less capable.
The load seemed heavier, his training felt more dangerous, and his confidence lower.
2) He felt tighter
After on-off rest for 6 months, Adam felt stiffer than a rusty door hinge.
No matter how much he stretched:
The tightness stubbornly remained.
Why?
His body was locking up to protect a fragile joint… it wasn’t a flexibility issue, but a weakness issue.
3) He started doubting his body
Adam’s started to second-guess every movement.
He felt hesitant:
- Picking up his kids
- Lifting the groceries
- Training his upper body
And every flare-up chipped at his confidence while reinforcing his fear: “What if I break down again?”
4) He (almost) lost it all
The longer he relied on rest, the more his strong, capable self slipped away.
His biggest fear? That surgery was inevitable… and he’d never feel athletic, powerful, or confident again.
So what happened? …
Adam eventually realised another 12 months of rest and band-aids would mean another 12 months of pain, frustration, and lost training.
So he decided to rebuild properly.
And when he did?
His only regret was not starting sooner.
Here’s why:
WHY DID REST FAIL ADAM?
Adam thought rest was recovery.
The reality? It’s regression.
It’s the same for physio stretches, massages, and injections too.
They give you short term relief…
But they doesn’t rebuild your shoulders, or address the underlying problem causing your pain or tightness in the first place.
Instead you get weaker, tighter, more fragile….
And you end up in an endless “rest and pain” cycle, haunted by flare ups the second you return to training, sports, or your favourite hobbies.
A quick summary
Adam thought rest would help, but instead it…
Made him weaker and less mobile.
Made his shoulders stiffer, not freer.
Eroded his confidence in training and daily life.
Delayed his recovery and compounded the problem.
So if you’re struggling with shoulder tightness, pain, or recurring injuries… don’t gamble your future on rest.
Because the longer you wait:
The more you lose… strength, confidence, freedom.
You’ve already tried resting, stretching, physio.
You know where that road leads.
The real choice is this:
Stay stuck in the cycle of flare-ups…
Or rebuild your shoulders properly, once and for all.
👉 Book your 30-minute call here. Because the only real risk is waiting.
