Rotator Cuff Exercises Part 1

Many people know how to effectively exercise the major muscles: legs, chest, back, shoulders, arms, and abs. What most people often neglect is strengthening the rotator cuff muscles. Exercising your rotator cuff muscles will improve overall strength and performance while minimizing the risk for injury.

There are 4 muscles included in the rotator cuff: supraspinatus, infraspinaturs, teres minor, and subscapularis. The supraspinatus is responsible for approximately the first 2o to 30 degrees of shoulder abduction. Unfortunately, using dumbbells is not as effective as cables when it comes to lateral raise (shoulder abduction) because their is very little resistance during the initial movement. Therefore, it is important for you and your clients to use cables at least once a week when it comes to lateral raise.

Next time, we'll review the most effective way to work the other 3 rotator cuff muscles.