Shoulder Advice – You get what you pay for

…and sometimes a lot less!

Let’s get something straight – I’m not:

• a shoulder expert / guru
• a physical therapist
• an athletic trainer
• a physician

This blog is meant to provide you with sources of information that will allow you to make educated decisions about your shoulder and its’ care.  Always CONSULT A PHYSICIAN !!

Scary Shoulder Exercise Video

This video scares me.

• notice the grimace on the face of the student / client within the first 3 seconds
• the weight used is obviously too heavy
• the instructor has to help the student / client at the end of each rep

Lack of Understanding is Dangerous

A major issue for me is the lack of understanding ( by the instructor ) that the rear delts ( used in the first stage of the exercise ) are far stronger than the rotator cuff ( used in the second stage of the exercise ).  This lack of understanding is causing the student to struggle as he attempts to perform the exercise correctly.  Imagine doing a lying dumbbell press with a heavy weight and then at the lockout position transitioning into a flye – it would feel like your chest is ripping apart – and it might.

Muscle Strength Imbalance

The rear deltoids are strong pulling muscles and the weight used in this exercise is probably appropriate for the inital movement.  However, the rotator cuff muscles are not nearly as strong as the deltoids – and it shows on the face of the student as he tries to rotate the weight in the second stage of the exercise.

This exercise should be broken into two parts:

1. a rear delt movement such as a rowing exercise – this would allow the student to use the weight shown.
2. a rotator cuff strengthening exercise – with far less weight – which is preferred.

Final Thoughts

I do like this shoulder exercise – just not as shown.  The amount of weight used should be decreased until the student can perform the exercise without pain.  Always use common sense.  If an exercise hurts you, then stop and  re-examine why and how  you’re doing it.

• are you performing the exercise correctly?
• are you using the “right” amount of resistance ( weight, band, etc. )?
• are you doing too many exercises for the same body part?

Shoulder Information … Your Way

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Tagged as: rotator cuff, shoulder exercises