Health Blog: Solutions & Wellness Tips

Shoulder pain can be an extremely bothersome issue in your life. Although you may not realize it, you use your shoulder on a frequent basis every day, since it permits many of the movements that involve your arms. Therefore, if a problem arises that leads to pain and prevents your shoulder from moving normally, it can become a major burden to your daily life.

As we discussed in our last post, there are many conditions that could be responsible for shoulder pain. In some cases, the cause may be a single, traumatic event like a hard fall to the ground or sports-related injury. Other patients will experience a gradual onset of shoulder pain due to repeated damage from overhead activities, which is often the case in rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder impingement syndrome, shoulder instability, and bursitis.

If you’re concerned that you may develop shoulder pain–perhaps because you play an overhead sport or have a job that involves overhead movements–you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to reduce this risk. The good news is that yes, it may be possible to avoid some types of shoulder pain with a dedicated approach. There is no single, foolproof way to stop all shoulder pain from occurring because numerous variables are involved, but one of the best steps you can take is to regularly perform shoulder exercises. Doing so will improve the strength and flexibility of muscles and joints surrounding the shoulder, thereby making the joint more stable and less prone to injury. With that said, here are our top 3 exercises to prevent shoulder pain:

To see videos of each exercise, go to www.MyRTR.net and enter prescription code MKGD8BSV

1. Scapular W’s with Resistance Band
   
   
   
   • Anchor a resistance band at shoulder height
   
   
   • Stand with good posture, arms out to your side at shoulder height, and your elbows bent at 90 degrees
   
   
   • Pull your arms backward against the resistance of the band and squeeze your shoulder blades together
   
   
   • Hold for 5 seconds
   
   
   • Complete 2 sets of 12 repetitions, every other day
   
   


2. Resisted Horizontal Abduction with Band (Hip Hinge)
   
   
   
   • Stand with a resistance band anchored under both feet
   
   
   • Hold one end of the resistance band in each hand and cross the band
   
   
   • Lean forward slightly at your hips, keeping your spine straight
   
   
   • Raise your arms straight out to the side against the resistance of the band
   
   
   • Hold for 5 seconds
   
   
   • Complete 2 sets of 12 repetitions, every other day
   
   


3. Resisted PNF D2 Flexion with Band #2
   
   
   
   • Stand holding a resistance band in both hands
   
   
   • Move one arm up and out against the resistance of the band while rotating your thumb upward
   
   
   • Follow this hand with your eyes
   
   
   • Hold for 5 seconds
   
   
   • Complete 2 sets of 12 repetitions, every other day
   
   

In our next post, we’ll break down a study that highlights the effectiveness of physical therapy for shoulder impingement syndrome.