I turned my thumbs toward the floor on every lateral raise just to feel the side delt burn harder: by the first sharp catch in my shoulder, it was too late
Turning your thumbs down during lateral raises is gym folklore that actually works—but it’s also squeezing your rotator cuff against your shoulder blade. Research shows this position increases compressive force sevenfold, and that sharp catch you feel is your shoulder’s warning sign that something is wrong with the geometry.