ABL Health: 7 Ways To Prevent Shoulder Pain and Injury

                                

Our shoulders are the most mobile joint in the body, allowing us to carry out an endless list of motions. In fact, there are very few movements we make in the course of the day that don’t involve the shoulder joint. That also means they’re highly vulnerable to injury and generally take a long time to heal. Luckily, there are ways to keep your shoulders strong and healthy — for the long haul. Try these expert-approved tips to stay injury-free. (more after the cut)

1. Strengthen External Rotators

One of the most common injuries that occurs within the shoulder is a subacromial impingement, which causes pain during internal rotation — the same motion that lets you throw a ball. By strengthening the external rotators, Morey Kolber, PT, PhD, associate professor in the physical therapy department at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, says it reduces the chances of shoulder impingement and pain. Try adding some band- or cable-resisted external rotations to your warm-up to start galvanizing your shoulders.

2. Avoid Lateral Raises Above 90 Degrees

A common cause of subacromial impingement is doing lateral raises too high. Some trainers instruct raising the arms to ear-level, therefore above 90 degrees, and many lifters listen for a simple reason — they work. However, as Kolber explains, “When we abduct our arms, or raise them out to the side, our shoulders need to externally rotate to prevent impingement.” Problem is, the most likely point of impingement is at 90 degrees, he says.

3. Fix Your Upright Row

According to Kolber, another move associated with impingement syndrome is the upright row. This is a safe and effective shoulder building exercise, as long as once again it is performed with good form and at a safe range. When doing an upright row, make sure your elbows never go above shoulder height. Or, opt for a different exercise altogether. “Try swapping it for a high pull instead to get some other muscles involved in the movement,” says Kolber.

4. High Five! Or Not…

You know that position you assume when going to give your partner a high five after a great set? Elbow bent 90 degrees, hand raised in the air? Kolber suggests avoiding the 90/90 position during a dumbbell military press or behind-the-neck pull-down. This prevents anterior instability, a condition that has been linked to posterior tightness and several other shoulder injuries more serious than impingement syndrome. Instead, Kolber recommends shoulder presses with a neutral grip (elbows pointed towards the mirror), and performing lat pull-downs in front of the neck to avoid vulnerable positions and reduce the risk of injury.

5. Do What Momma Said

Did your mother ever tell you to stand up straight to make you look taller? Newsflash: It’s essential to long-term shoulder health too, says Karen Skolnik, MSPT, a physical therapist at the Infinity Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. “It is key to all exercise, especially in regard to shoulder workouts,” she says. Maintaining good posture is the most stable position for your shoulders to be in, and the more stable they are, the lower the injury risk.

6. Slow Down

Many lifters and trainers know that eccentric muscle action, or “negatives” as they are commonly referred to, are great muscle-building moves. The science goes a little deeper than that, though. “Evidence suggests that eccentric training may offer a greater anabolic response at the tissue, which is needed for recovery and repair,” says Kolber. Try slowing down during the lowering phase of your lifts to see increases in size, strength and stability — and a decrease in risk of injury — in your shoulders.

7. Stretch It Out

According to preliminary results in his latest research, Kolber says, “individuals performing eccentric load training were found to have a loss of mobility lasting up to 24 hours after the exercise session.” Both he and Skolnik agree that active stretching is an extremely useful tool to maintain mobility. “Stretching is important after exercising because when you use a muscle, it contracts and shortens,” says Skolnik. “In order to maintain flexibility and proper body alignment, it is essential to stretch.” Long-term, the effect described above will lead to a loss of mobility if stretching is not performed in conjunction with the exercise.

Maybe your shoulders are bugging you already or maybe they’re just fine. Either way, these methods listed above are great ways to reduce your risk of injury (or further damage) and build ironclad shoulders that can stand up even to the worst positions you put them in.