The Rotater is Patented as a Shoulder Therapeutic Apparatus
June 14, 2010
Congratulations to Joint Mechanix Co-owner and my best friend, Scott Kay. During the week of May 18, Scott was awarded patent #7717834 for the Rotater.
Shoulder stretching tool is patented
Designed to increase internal and external rotation for a person who’s going through shoulder rehab, the Rotater has become the “go – to” shoulder prehab / rehab tool for athletes who want to stretch, strengthen and condition their shoulders for increased shoulder performance.
NATA
We will be in Philadelphia (June 22 – 25) for the National Athletic Trainer Association annual conference. If you will be attending, please stop by booth #651, try the Rotater and introduce yourself – we’d love to meet you. If the past is any indication, we’ll be busy demonstrating the Rotater and answering questions.
Bodybuilders, Golfers, GIRD and the Rotater
March 24, 2010
I want to thank several people who are passionate about using the Rotater and spreading the word to their friends as well.
James DiMuzio – Bodybuilder and Personal Trainer
James is an accomplished bodybuilder and highly sought after personal trainer in San Diego. James was kind enough to include the Rotater in the intro of his recent video where he describes his back and hamstring training. Note – as you’ll see in this video, James is not afraid to lift some very heavy weights – and this is while dieting for his most recent competition!
Tanya Colucci – Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Performance Enhancement Specialist
Tanya Colucci - M.S., NASM-CPT, CES, PES
Tanya is working with a new golf client who is training for the pro tour. Among the many areas Tanya is addressing is shoulder rotation mobility – and she’s chosen to use the Rotater to help her client’s internal and external shoulder rotation mobility!
After accessing her client’s physical condition (Overhead Squat Assessment, Single Leg Squat Assessment, Modified Squat Assessments, Thoracic spine mobility testing, shoulder ROM testing), Tanya has developed an extensive program to help her client reach his goal of becoming a professional golfer – here’s a link to her program & progress: GOLF: How to improve your swing! Part 1
Dr. Jeff Cubos – Strength and Conditioning Specialist, holds the International Chiropractic Sports Science Diploma and is currently the ONLY chiropractic sports specialist in the Greater Edmonton Area.
Dr. Jeff Cubos
Dr. Cubos is passionate about working with elite athletes and believes that knowledge is the key to sports injury management, athletic development and performance.
Dr. Cubos recently posted an article on his blog titled – Are You Sleeping on the “Sleeper” Stretch? In this article, Dr. Cubos questions the current practice of prescribing the Sleeper Stretch for athletes with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD) of the shoulder.
Dr. Cubos includes several alternative glenohumeral positions that significantly stretch the posterior capsule of the shoulder. Two of these strategies include the use of the Rotater ( see pictures ).
Trainer “Wowed” by the Rotater
March 3, 2010
“I’ve been in the strength & conditioning, fitness, bodybuilding, and training game for a while now – 16+ years. Needless to say, I’ve been around the block a time or two. I’ve had some shoulder issues in the past, and have fixed it all on my own.
Working Class Trainer - Matt Wiggins
I’ve still got very strong shoulders, and rehab/prehab work such as banded pull-aparts and cuban presses are a regular part of my workouts, as well as what I recommend to others. However, my shoulder flexibility still isn’t quite what I’d like.
Then I got The Rotater.
In a word – “wow”. By doing nothing more than some of the basic stretching exercises, my Range of Motion (on both internal and external rotation on both shoulders) had increased by the 3rd day.
My shoulders feel looser and healthier than they have in a long time. What a great product!”
Matt “Wiggy” Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
http://www.workingclasscardioworkout.com
New Rotater Instructional Videos
January 7, 2010
Okay, you’ve been asking for them and here they are. Eight new instructional videos demonstrating how to set up and use the Rotate to stretch your shoulder and strengthen your rotator cuff.
We’d like to express our gratitude to Eric Beard for the excellent job he’s done in each of these videos. Eric is a highly respected health and fitness professional whose specialties include corrective exercise and performance enhancement (MS, LMT, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, NSCA-CSCS). He’s also a great friend. You can learn more about Eric at EricBeard.com or by following him on Twitter at @ericbeard.
| Introducing the Rotater – the #1 Shoulder Rehab and Stretching Device | Importance of Stretching & Strengthening Your Rotator Cuff |
| How to Set Up the Rotater | Strong Arm Set-Up for Rotator Cuff Strengthening |
| External Rotation Made Easy with the Rotater | Internal Rotation – Discover How with the Rotater |
| How to Strengthen the External Rotators of Your Shoulder | How to Strengthen the Internal Rotators of Your Shoulder |
Click Here to Get your Rotater today – you’re shoulders will thank you for it!
Premier Track Coach Reviews Shoulder Rehab Device
September 22, 2009
Mike Young
Mike Young is founder and owner of ELITETRACK.COM, co-owner of Human Performance Consulting and coach of the HPC Elite Track Team. That alone gives him a ton of credibility, but he also:
- holds a PhD in Biomechanics
- has coached at LSU and Ohio University before serving as the sprints and decathlon coach at Army
- served as an instructor or adjunct professor at Ohio University, LSU, and the University of North Carolina
- has lectured for the Chinese Track and Field Association and USA Speed Skating
- participated in 3 Olympics – as an athlete (Lake Placid), as a sport scientist (Colorado Springs and Chula Vista), and as a coach (Colorado Springs)
Several months ago, Mike agreed to evaluate the Rotater. Here are some of the excerpts from the review he posted on his blog – The Rotater and Shoulder Injuries.
…Unlike most of the shoulder stretching and strengthening variations for internal and external rotation that are used in shoulder rehab / prehab, the ones that the Rotater places the athlete in are much less awkward on the shoulder joint because it helps to stabilize the elbow in the appropriate position, limits movement to the shoulder joint while still permitting enough play to at the elbow joint to ensure the stretching and strengthening isn’t turned in to something robotic..
…I think it’s one of the few products I think could be valuable for increasing the performance and decreasing the likelihood of injury in athletes that need to do high velocity, ballistic overhead movements…
Here’s the complete Rotater review and comments.
If you have a twitter account, you can follow Mike at @mikeyoung
Certified personal trainer gets results with the Rotater
September 7, 2009
Chris Sellards - CPT, CES, PES
We received the following email from Chris Sellards, a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist.
Chris has been using the Rotater for several weeks and documenting his results. Here is that data:
Initial Observations
Improve your physical condition
Client suffers from tightness in his Infraspinatus, pain in his Supraspinatus, weakness with external rotation, and winged scapula. Goniometric measurements prior to Corrective exercise showed 120 degrees. He complains about pain in shoulders and a feeling his shoulder needs to “pop” when working out. He is unable to do any overhead work – shoulder press/lat pulldowns.
Efforts Stall
I worked with him using basic NASM CEx principles for 6 weeks and moved him into Stabilization training. This is where we stalled and couldn’t seem to obtain the range of motion and stability in the shoulder needed to move into strength training.
After 8 weeks of stabilization with little progress, I was about to refer him to a specialist. This is when I came across the Rotater.
Implementing the Rotater
I used the Rotater with him for 3 weeks using the following routine: Foam roll lats, tennis ball on pec minor and posterior capsule, ball lat stretches, 90/90 stretches, and using the Rotater in all positions for a one minute stretch in each position. CEx exercises included tea cups, external rotation, face pulls, ball combo I and II, Cobras, scapular pushups, and scapular protraction/retraction.
| Typical Workout | Circuit One | Circuit Two |
| Foam roll Lats, rhomboids/traps | Stability ball bench press | Bosu ball pushups |
| Tennis ball on pec minor and posterior capsule | Cobras | Standing rows |
| Static stretch lats and pecs | Ball Squats | Multi-planar lunges |
| Rotater in all 4 positions for a 1 minute stretch in each position | Rotater stretches on the affected shoulder. Hold stretch for 5 seconds, release and repeat for 3 sets. Perform in all 4 positions | Single leg Medicine ball PNF with rotation |
| Tea cups and/or external rotation | Rotater stretches on the affected shoulder. Hold stretch for 5 seconds, release and repeat for 3 sets. Perform in all 4 positions. | |
| Foam roll Lats, rhomboids/traps | ||
| Tennis ball on pec minor and posterior capsule | ||
| Static stretch lats and pecs | ||
| Rotater in all 4 positions for a 1 minute stretch |
Increase your ROM with the Rotater
Results
Using this method for 3 weeks, client increased range of motion to 173 degrees, exhibits stability in external rotation, and is ready for strength training.
Conclustion
I am absolutely amazed with the effectiveness of the Rotater. My client no longer has pain or discomfort in his shoulder, is performing shoulder presses, lat pulldowns, and will NOT require seeing a specialist. The Rotater is the best thing since the foam roll.
Chris Sellards, NASM CPT, CES, PES
Disclosure: Chris was provided with a Rotater at no charge. His testimonial was voluntary and not required.
Shoulder Tool is Effective for Gaining Range of Motion
July 29, 2009
“We have recently purchased a Rotater for our clinic. We have a large number of shoulder surgical cases, and we have found it to be an effective way to assist in gaining shoulder ROM (range of motion) for External and Internal rotation.
The Rotater has been effective for increasing internal & external rotation
As most PT’s (physical therapists) and ATC’s (certified athletic trainers) know, the capsular pattern of ROM restriction for the shoulder include these two motions. It has been effective in the clinical setting, and we have also allowed patients to take it home with them for periods of time to use in their home exercise programs.”
Jim Nespor PT / ATC
Physical Therapy
(aka Cyclone Sports Medicine)
Iowa State University
132 Lied Recreation Center
Ames, IA. 50011
Phone 515-294-2626
Fax 515-294-2794
Shoulder Rehab Device Receives “Stamp of Approval” from Doctor of Physical Therapy
July 6, 2009
Julie Barnett - PT, DPT, MTC
“Thanks for following up with our clinic. We are off to a fast pace already for ‘08 which is great. Here is more feedback on our experience with The Rotater:
The best feature I like is the isolated external rotation passive stretch for our adhesive capsulitis patients. The movements are slow, controlled and specific unlike other alternatives.
I did look on line to see the padding which would be helpful to use. The tubing I do not feel that we need.
One of our patients who had used the Dynasplint passive mobilization system through another facility liked The Rotater better. He also felt the positioning and amount of stretch was more controlled with The Rotater.
My recommendation is that outpatient orthopedic clinics should have the Rotater as an everyday tool for restricted shoulders just as they would have a set of pulleys and arm bike. I believe it will remain as a main stay tool for shoulder rehabilitation in our profession.
The other uses are widespread throughout other fields of PT such as post mascectomy or other neurological conditions. I feel most competent to address the outpatient orthopedic arena. I plan to introduce the Rotater to our physical therapy students in the University of Texas Health Science Center Allied Health program in San Antonio as well.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the feedback for development of your practical tool. Feel free to use these comments in your materials and send a copy to me afterwards, if possible.”
Julie Barnett PT, DPT, MTC
Director of Physical Therapy for Annette M. Zaharoff MD
Adjunct Faculty University of Texas Health Science Center Physical Therapy Dept
The Rotater is featured in the Montgomery Advertiser
May 28, 2009
Opelika business product featured
The Rotater, created and marketed by area businessmen Scott Kay and Chris Melton and marketed by the Opelika company Joint Mechanix LLC, has been named “golf product of the month” by 1StopForGolf.com.
Shoulder rehab device is in the news
Kay, an avid motorcycle racer who has broken his shoulders three times, invented the rehabilitation and stretching device for shoulders.
After his last surgery, he wanted to speed up the rehabilitation process and found nothing available that could reproduce the sensations the he felt during physical therapy. He said that doctors and therapists encouraged him to patent the device after they saw what it did.
The device increases the shoulder’s range of motion by passively stretching the shoulder’s internal and external rotation. Kay said it increases the shoulder’s flexibility for sport-specific activities and can effectively warm up the shoulder before sporting events.
For more information, visit www.theRotater.com.
–Kym Klass
Note: this article appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser on November 27, 2007 – the link to the original is no longer active
Physical Therapist says, “the Rotater is more effective than doorway & towel stretches”
May 17, 2009
“Hi, I am Justin Spooner ,MSPT, I want say that using the “Rotater” on a regular basis has had a positive effect for many of my shoulder patients I see from S/P RTC (rotator cuff) Repair Surgery to Adhesive Capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
Chris demonstrates the Rotater to a physical therapist at the APTA conference
It is much more effective than the old doorway and towel stretches plus patient’s seem to be more motivated to do it at home than giving them these stretches.
It does a better job at isolating than anything I have come across and when it comes to shoulder impingement, etc, having good ER/IR (external rotation / internal rotation) is huge and very well could mean the difference in having surgery or not.”
Justin Spooner, MSPT
