Some of the strength-training videos depict the use of a weights bar with NO weights attached.

For such exercises, is it okay to use a broomstick?

In other words, is the depicted use of the weights bar about the form of having one's arms above one's head, no matter how light the weight of what one is holding with both hands?

Hi Kirk,

A typical barbell weighs 45 lbs. So don't let that fool you. A broom stick would not amount to that weight. The weight above the head is definitely an important part of the body alignment and proper distribution of impact forces, but the 45lbs certainly plays a role as well.

For those runners with shoulder issues (such as partial-thickness rotator-cuff tears), what do you recommend as a substitute for holding a 45-lb. barbell (without or, in some videos, with plates attached) above one's head?

That's a good question, we like to use stretch cords or other band resistance in those instances. Alternatively, for the same weight benefits, you can wear a weighted vest. To get the same effect without running with something overhead, depth jumps could really be a big help to simulate the same type of stimulus.