Tips from an experienced strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer on shoulder health, rehabilitation, and development. Dynamic management of the shoulder is vital to help athletes reach their goals despite injuries.
By Matthew Morris, BA CSCS
The most mobile large joint in the human body and arguably the most susceptible to dysfunction is the shoulder. The shoulder is comprised of well over a dozen parts working together within a framework of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These all intersect to make a quasi-ball and socket joint that allows a wonderfully wide range of mobility, though perhaps at the expense of stability.
Nearly any arm movement involves the shoulder, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, holding your phone, and carrying a suitcase. Even sleeping requires a particular shoulder position. Athletic performance requires that shoulder function jumps to another level. The risk of acute injury also jumps just as high. Think about Olympic weightlifters holding hundreds of pounds overhead, football players smashing into one another, the repetitive range of motion (ROM) for baseball players, swimmers, and volleyball athletes.
Continue reading “The Shoulder – dynamic management”
