The rotator cuff, an often neglected muscle group, is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff helps to keep the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder joint. In addition to keeping your shoulder stable, these muscles help to lift and rotate your arm. Injury to this muscle group is common, particularly in those who perform repetitive overhead motions as you would in a sport like tennis or a profession like painting.
The key to preventing shoulder pain or injury to these muscles is maintaining good rotator cuff strength in addition to good posture to improve your shoulder mechanics. Here are four simple exercises that you can start performing at home to start building better shoulder strength and stability.
- Side-lying External Rotation with Weight
2. Shoulder Internal Rotation with Band
3. Scapular Rows
If you are currently suffering from shoulder pain, the physical therapists at Harbor Physical Therapy will help you to develop an exercise program that is specific to your injury.
Written by:
Dr. David Reymann
Staff Physical Therapist
Harbor Physical Therapy