My problem is that I have a big chest. This causes my shoulders to arch foward pinching off the nerves to my arms. This causes numbness/tingling in my fingers and pain in my wrists. KB’s help me keep my shoulders strong so I can have proper posture. I just finished physical therapy with a therapist. She however knew nothing about KB’s. She saw a significant difference in my posture as soon as I started swinging again. She was very pleased. I even brought my kettlebell in to show her what I was doing. I also brought in my book from Lisa Schaffer "Get in the Best Shape of Your Life No Fear Fitness" since it laid out a lot of the various moves so she could see them. The only thing she really told me was that the swing was fine, but she didn’t feel my shoulders were anywhere near strong enough to be bringing the weight above my head.
This is where my dilemma lies. I know Snatches, Military Press, Windmills, & TGU are great for shoulder strength, but they involve the KB over my head. So my question is other then swings, swings, and more swings do you think I should be doing to strengthen my shoulders. She gave me exercises to do with regular weights, but here is my other dillema, I am completely broke and don’t have regular weights. The only thing I can use as weights is 16oz water bottles. I have to use what I have. Which my arsenau consists of 2 8kg, 2 12kg, and 2 66kg kettlebells; a light, medium, and heavy risistance bands, and an exercise ball. Although the exercise ball I bought for my dog she is rehabing from an acl injury (reason I’m broke), but I can still use it too.
What I’ve been doing. Swings, mostly double handed swings. I’m having a brain block on what it is called (ladders?), but I line up my 8,12, 16 KB in a row and just do 10 reps on each for so many sets I’m up to about 3 sets. I been doing military press motions using the resistance bands. I’ve also been doing pushups using the exercise ball making sure to keep my elbows tight to my body as possible.
On a side note I also need to work on stengthening the muscles around my elbow because it is hard for me to lock out my elbow when it is above my head. The PT did give me a couple of extension and one flexion evercise to do with regular weight 2 of the 3 I can do with kettlebells the 3rd I can do with a resistance band. Just wondering if you have any suggestions to help strengthen me for this too.
Sorry long post 
Anyway recap of questions:
1) other then swings is there anything else I can do with the kettlebell to strengthen my shoulders without lifting the weight over head?
2) is there any exercises I can do with the KB to strengthen the muscles around my elbow so I will have the strength to lock out my elbow?
Just as an FYI, I have trained with RKC’s in the past, I just don’t have any extra money right now to train with them now and won’t until at least next year.
