Stretching the internal rotation of your shoulder without help can be a problem. Most people suggest using a towel, golf club or some other item to drape over your shoulder and grasp behind your back. Then, you lift gently with one arm while pulling the other arm upwards behind your back. This short video is a good demonstration of the “old” technique:

Internal Rotation: The New Approach = Multiple Stretches + Greater Versatility

After the responses that we received from sports medicine professionals during the American College of Sports Medicine conference and athletic trainers during the National Athletic Trainers Association annual convention, Scott and I realized that our current video doesn’t showcase the all the benefits of the Rotater. Specifically, you can:

• stretch internal rotation in many positions
• duplicate internal rotation exercises that normally require assistance
• control the degree of each stretch
• achieve a “true” passive stretch (your injured arm does not grasp anything, avoiding the introduction of unnecessary resistance)

Here is our newest video demonstrating the variety of ways the Rotater can be used to stretch internal rotation.

Which one would you prefer - the “old” towel or the new Rotater?

Dr. Perez went on the explain that he played Men’s Senior League Baseball and felt that the Rotater would be beneficial to many of the players.

“…Part of a Comprehensive Shoulder Stretching Program”

“As a 20+ year player in The Mens Senior Baseball League and someone with a background in Sports Medicine I can attest to the benefit of using the Rotater in a comprehensive shoulder stretching program.

I use the Rotater after a general warmup which include calistenics and running 1/2 hour before game time. I then follow the recommended stretches outlined in the instructions and finish with general throwing and long toss.

The Rotater has increased my Range of Motion at the shoulder and reduced strain. Our pitchers have tried it and they like the specific stretch it provides at the shoulder girdle. Thanks for sharing the Rotater with our over 40 baseball players”

H. Robert Perez, Ph.D
Human Performance Lab
Adelphi University

(photo courtesy of H. Robert Perez)

(photo courtesy of H. Robert Perez)

(photo courtesy of H. Robert Perez)

(photo courtesy of H. Robert Perez)

One of the most common injuries of the shoulder involves the rotator cuff. But exactly what is the rotator cuff and what does it do?

Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy out of Boston posted a very good article about the rotator cuff written in easy-to-understand terms. Their article includes:

• a description of the shoulder joint (anatomy) and why the shoulder can be easily injured
• an explanation of shoulder impingement
• how rotator cuff tendonitis can occur
• ways to prevent shoulder injuries

Another very good blog post from Commonwealth Sports Medicine, entitled – Shoulder Impingement – states that shoulder impingement syndorme “affects at least half of all overhead athletes at some point in their career.”

I especially like their analogy of comparing the precariousness of the shoulder joint to “taking a golf tee and balancing a basketball on top of it- an unstable situation.”

Check out their suggestions for dealing with this injury – rest, ice, strengthening and stretching the rotator cuff and more.

Excellent Shoulder Anatomy Video

This is the best video I’ve seen describing the function and anatomy of the shoulder joint. If you want to know more about how your shoulder functions, then watch the video.

We (the Rotater Guys) head to St. Louis

In 2006,Scott Kay introduced a very crude prototype of the shoulder rehab and stretching device that he had invented to athletic trainers at the National Athletic Trainer Association’s annual conference that was being held in Atlanta.

Because of the response that the Rotater received in Atlanta, Scott proceeded with the development of his shoulder rehab and stretching device – which is now in mass production.

The NATA conference will be at the America’s Center Convention Center in St. Louis. If you’re in the area, then stop by booth #2242. We’d love to meet you and answer your questions.

• The Rotater is being used in Ball State’s Human Performance Lab
• at least one other university is teaching its students the benefits of the Rotater

No matter where we go, we discover great people who are helping us spread the word about the Rotater and it can help in shoulder performance and rehab. This trip was no different and I’d like to thank them for:

• their advice
• their encouragement
• introducing us to influential people
• pointing us in the right direction

Among those that We’d like to thank are:

• Steven Forestieri and Jeff Rose of NHESA – Steven and Jeff have a passion to help others and the National Health and Exercise Science Association promises to be a fantastic organization with a variety of health care and educational applications.
• Rachelle Waggoner
• Daniel P. Montero, M.D. – Orthopedic Medicine & Musculoskeletal Disorders - Mayo Clinic
• Clinton A. Brawner, MS – ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist
• Helmut Perez – FACSM
• Lisa Sonntag, MS, PTA – ACSM Certified Health Fitness Instructor
• Kim Mueller, MS, RD – www.fuel-factor.com
• Dave Freidrich – www.infinitnutrition.com
• Judy Foxworth, PT, PhD, OCS – Assistant Professor Department of Physical Therapy, Winston Salem State University
• Angie Armour – Occupational Therapist
• Jonathan K. Ehrman, PhD, FASCM – Associate Program Director, Preventive Cardiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology Core Lab – Director, Weight Management Program.
• Frank Finach
• Dan Zeman

Distributorship Inquiries from Abroad

There was tremendous interest about the possibility of distributing the Rotater worldwide. Though we are currently shipping to many countries, several people approached us about setting up distributorships in their countries. These include:

• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Brazil
• Chile

Does Tiger’s swing resemble your swing?  Do you get a “big” shoulder turn?  Probably not and it could be for a variety of reasons.  Here is what one golfer told us in an email that we received recently:

“To: The Rotator Guy

You sure should be proud of your “Rotater” invention.  Ever since the PGA Show when you introduced me to the “Rotater”, I have been using it daily.  The results for me have been outstanding.

Previously I was very restricted in my shoulder flexibility and add a touch of bursitis to the equation and you get a very short backswing.  After my “Rotater” program started, I experienced significant improvement in my shoulder movement and now I can actually get a full shoulder turn (without pain).

I cannot wait to get to the course once the weather warms up so I can “wow” my buddies.

Ed Wallace
(a very happy customer)”

Discover how the Rotater can help you.

Golf Today magazine has been keeping the golfer informed for twenty one years.  Scott and I had the pleasure to meet Bob Koczor the publisher/owner or Golf Today magazine during the fall PGA expo held in Las Vegas this past September.

We were riding the elevator to our twelfth floor room, when the gentleman in the elevator with us introduced himself (as Bob Koczor, the owner of Golf Today magazine) and asked about the shoulder device that we were caring.  He was very interested in hearing all about the Rotater and promised to come by our booth the following day to try the Rotater for himself. 

Bob came by our booth the following day and not only tried the Rotater, but took one with him for further testing and evaluation.

Orlando PGA Expo is huge!

Due to the strong reception that the Rotater received from the golf professionals who attended the Vegas show, we decided that we would take the “big leap” and go to Orlando for the “big” PGA expo.  Big is not really the correct word.  This event is huge beyond our imagining.  

When the doors opened, Bob Koczor was the first person to come by our booth.  He had seen Scott in the entrance area and made it a point to come by and speak with us about the Rotater.  He also told us that he would be publishing an article about the Rotater.

 The Rotater is noted in Golf Today Magazine

(this photo demonstrates how to use the Rotater to stretch external rotation)

If you haven’t seen Golf Today Magazine, then you have missed an online resource that offers in depth information at a price you can afford – free!  In addition to that, there are a number of blogs associated with the web site that keep you up-to-date with what’s going on in the golf world – today.

What I really like is the way that they present their digital version of the Golf Today Magazine.  Yes, that’s right.  You can read the magazine online.  And it’s in a real page flipping style – just like hard copy. 

Some excerpts from Golf Today magazine about the Rotater

The following excerpts are taken from the article that appeared in the February edition of Golf Today magazine.  This link will take you to the page 55 where you can read the entire article (you may have to use the zoom function).

“…I tried the sample they provided and, at first felt muscles and ligaments and whatever keeps me glued together that I had not felt since my 3 – hour Thai Massage about five years ago.”

“The Rotater provides Internal and External Rotation for one’s arms and shoulders which, in turn, results in stretching exercises that are key to good golf.”

“The Rotater allows you to get your body fluid enough to do those things and the results are outstanding.”

Visit our web-site to see if the Rotater can help you.

• huge traffic
• massive orders for the Rotater and related accessories
• continual requests for information
• requests for interviews with Scott and myself

Massive traffic causes the Rotater web-site and Shoulder Performance & Rehab to crash

Later in the month of February, the Ann Arbor News and Muskegon Chronicle picked up the Rotater story and republished it.  Again, this was great for orders as well as traffic.  What was not so great was the realization that our web host was not able to maintain those levels of traffic.  This problem was compounded by:

• ineffectual customer service
• their lack of concern
• a pattern of problems (based on my internet research of their problems with customer service)

Welcome to our new home

(photo by Hellsgeriatric)

We now have a new home.  We have moved our hosting to Hostgator.com and have been extremely happy with their help and customer service so far.  All the research that I did, indicated that they put customer service as their top priority.  So far, I agree.

If you should see any links that don’t work or any other problems with the site, then please email me at cfmelton@therotater.com and let me know about them.  I will do my best to correct the problems right away.

The Rotater, a shoulder rehabilitation and stretching device was featured on the front page of the Birmingham News� weekly health section this past Monday (February 11), in an article entitled �Industrial mechanic invents tool to improve shoulder mobility, finds niche in athletics�.

A couple of excerpts

“The device is very, very good,” said Ty Garner, a physical therapist and part owner of Total Rehab. “I still support him 100 percent. You can show it to any therapist out there, and they’ll say, `Wow.’”

“I use it daily,” said O’Tyrrell, who said he has not been paid for his endorsement. “It allows me to make a full turn, which allows me to really cream the ball.” � Read the Rest

The Rotater is in Boston

Scott Kay has taken the Rotater on the road once again. The National Golf Expo is being held today through Sunday at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

This will be the first time that the Rotater has been made available directly to the golf consumer. If you are able to attend the show, then I urge you to stop by the Rotater booth to see Eric Sanders or Scott Kay and give the Rotater a try for yourself. Feel the incredible stretch and discover why the PGA professionals are excited about this unique shoulder stretching and flexibility tool.

(photo is courtesy of David Niblack)

1.  Watch the shoulder flexibility video (below) by the Titleist Performance Institute ( TPI )

2.  Compare the TPI video with the photographs of Damon Lucas that follow the video, as he uses the Rotater.  Damon is a PGA teaching professional, the Director of Instruction at Chestnut Ridge Country Club in Lutherville, Maryland and he established the first Putting Zone Academy in the U.S. after extensive study under Geoff Mangum. 

3.  Then watch the video demonstration of the Rotater to see why so many golfers and long drive competitors are using the Rotater to increase their shoulder flexibility.

Titleist Performance Institute ( TPI ) video – Shoulder Flexibility

Link: sevenload.com

Damon Lucas – PGA teaching professional demonstrating the Rotater

The Rotater – The two minute solution to flexibility, power and distance

It has been a few months since I met the Rotater gang at the APTA conference in Denver, CO. I was quite intrigued with their product, and purchased one for use in my clinic. Since then, the Rotater has been used daily and I am in need of a new one or three.

The Rotater itself has proved invaluable to my patients� shoulders and their subsequent recovery. It has been used for a variety of overuse, sports, orthopedic, and post-surgical conditions to date, and on a large group of patients as well. Everyone from grandma with adhesive capsulitis to the major league baseball pitcher has reaped its benefits, and I look forward to many more.

In fact, I am currently planning a youth baseball camp for the little leagues in my area. I plan on performing mechanical examinations and coaching; rotator cuff, scapular, and core strengthening; and shoulder stretching (with the Rotater of course). I�ll keep you guys updated with the progress on the camp.

In summary, great job guys! I truly appreciate your ingenuity in creating the Rotater. It has been a great addition to my clinic. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Kevin Rausch, MPT, CSCS
Rausch Physical Therapy, INC.
www.rauschpt.net

We met Kevin Rausch in August of 2007 at the American Physical Therapy Association�s annual convention. Kevin was introducing a revolutionary rehabilitation service that combines the convenience of a menu of internet based rehabilitation exercises with the expertise of member physical therapists.

An idea that is grabbing the attention of the press

Kevin�s internet based exercise program has caught the attention of Physical Therapy Products magazine, where his program has been featured a number of times.

Products on the Market ( Oct 2007 ) � a section of Physical Therapy Products magazine that features new and innovative products for the physical therapist. Scroll down to �Web-based Exercise Programs�

Soap Notes ( Dec 2007) � Physical therapy products.

Fitness Focus ( Jan 2008 ) � an article by Alan Ruskin entitled �Exercise Software�.

Visit Home Programs.net to find out if Kevin can help you.