Yes. At least
I believe they are.
"Pack the shoulder" is a cue that has been used a lot. Remember that a cue is just a way to get someone to perform a movement a certain way. When I taught handstands in the past, I would use different cues for different people because their bodies were different and they had different mobility, etc., and also everyone learns slightly differently.
I realize that the packing cue has been used for a long time, but it is my personal opinion that it is a confusing cue. We are told to "pack" the shoulder
both for swings
and presses, yet the shoulder is required to perform a much different task in both movements. For the press, the shoulder blade should rotate upward as you press while staying tight to the back of the ribcage. When you swing, the shoulder blade must provide a stable base for the arm as you swing the kettlebell forward. The common thing between both moves is that the shoulder should be down away from the ear (explained in the second article posted below).
A while back there was a thread involving this. I tried searching for it but couldn't find it in the time I have. I believe this article was posted. I hope it's not too difficult to understand if english is your second language. It does help to explain what should happen, though. It is more complex than the second article posted below.
Today’s post will be from my friend Joe Sansalone regarding the topic of shoulder packing. Joe is one of the more knowledgeable guys in the industry yet many people have...
bretcontreras.com
This is another good article that touches on using different cues to acheive the same goal. It also brings into question whether or not activating the lats during a press is a good strategy. For me, it's not. For others, it seems to help. They also suggest other cues to acheive the same goal.
The kettlebell community has taught the concept of shoulder packing to stabilize the shoulder for a very long time. I have seen it cued, taught, and discussed for about 14 years! As a Master RKC, I…
rkcblog.dragondoor.com
If a visual representation would work best, here is a picture that might help explain what the scapula/shoulder blade must do when you reach or press overhead. Notice that the top portion of the scapula closest to the spine must rotate
down as the portion that meets the humerus (arm bone) must rotate
up.
The arrows represent muscles that attach to the scapula. From upper left, moving anti-clockwise, they are:
Upper trapezius
Middle trapezius
Lower trapezius
Serratus anterior
Deltoid
View attachment 18662
Image used is from this paper:
BackgroundThe serratus anterior (SA) is capable of a wide range of actions across the
www.rbf-bjpt.org.br
I hope this is more helpful than confusing
Edit: If able, anyone with issues training a movement should work with a qualified coach in person. If trouble persists, see a physio. If your coach and/or physio aren't able to help, then I suggest trying different coaches/physios. As that second article touches on, a coach may know the cues to use, but if they don't understand why and how to use the cues, they might not work effectively.