| A rotator cuff strengthening program should always | | | | what it should have been implemented in the first place. |
| be part of an over all shoulder training routine as well | | | | People exerting the shoulder joint to the limit often |
| as a rehabilitation protocol following an injury, a | | | | forget the importance of a strong cuff focusing on the |
| disorder, or surgery. The rotator cuff is a very | | | | strong external shoulder muscles only. This is a recipe |
| complex set up with the purpose of allowing the | | | | for disaster, as weight lifter, tennis or baseball players |
| greatest range of motion of any joint while keeping the | | | | over stress their shoulder joints until an injury occurs. |
| arm stable into its shoulder socket (Glenoid), preventing | | | | However, a rotator cuff can go wrong even without a |
| dislocation and assisting the other shoulder muscles, | | | | stressing factor, on the contrary for the opposite |
| the Deltoid and Trapezius. | | | | reasons of inactivity or scarce exercise, until a sudden |
| A rotator cuff strengthening program should target all | | | | exertion is required. |
| 4 muscles and tendons making up the cuff. The 4 | | | | For most people, a Tendonitis, a Bursitis, an |
| muscles insert in different parts of the shoulder blade | | | | Impingement or a Frozen Shoulder are the result of |
| (Scapula) and converge into the arm bone (Humerus) | | | | different factors such as repetitive jobs, age, being |
| just below the humeral head, surrounding it and keeping | | | | overweight and others. Anti inflammatories are usually |
| it into place while performing all possible movements. In | | | | prescribed in these cases but for all the benefits that a |
| order to do so, these exercises are specifically | | | | quick fix solution can bring, like pain and inflammation |
| designed to involve the cuff proper with external and | | | | relief, they just mask the symptoms temporarily and |
| internal rotation exercises, not the Deltoid or the | | | | can lead to long term dependency, as the rotator cuff |
| Trapezius. | | | | tends to heal in long times, whatever the disorder. |
| Hence military presses are not specifically designed to | | | | However, a strengthening program can greatly cut |
| rehabilitate or strengthen the cuff and are best | | | | down recovery times, setting up the cuff for faster |
| avoided following a tear, surgery, or a disorder, at least | | | | healing, reducing inflammation naturally, and gradually |
| for the time being until the cuff has sufficiently | | | | getting rid of drugs. A post surgery or a tear |
| recovered. These exercises for the cuff require little or | | | | rehabilitation must always include rotator cuff |
| no resistance until the cuff is strong enough to be | | | | strengthening exercises to help the cuff heal properly |
| challenged further. In many cases a rotator cuff | | | | and prevent future injuries. |
| strengthening program is necessary to make up for | | | | |