Shoulder (Rotator Cuff Stretches)

What is your Rotator Cuff?

Rotator cuff syndrome is very common shoulder injury.

Your shoulder joint is a relatively unstable ball and socket joint that is moved and controlled by a small group of four muscles known as the rotator cuff.

The subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor are your small rotator cuff muscles that stabilise and control your shoulder movement on your shoulder blade (scapula).

As the name suggests, the rotator cuff muscles are responsible for shoulder rotation and form a cuff around the head of the humerus (shoulder ball).

What Rotator Cuff Injuries are Common?

Your rotator cuff muscles and tendons are vulnerable to rotator cuff tears, rotator cuff tendonitis and rotator cuff impingement and related rotator cuff injuries.

Rotator cuff injuries vary from mild tendon inflammation ( rotator cuff tendonitis), shoulder bursitis (inflammed bursa), calcific tendonitis (bone forming within the rotator cuff tendon) through to partial and full thickness rotator cuff tears, which may require rotator cuff surgery.

Some shoulder rotator cuff injuries are more common than others.

These include:

Rotator Cuff Impingement
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis / Tendinopathies
Shoulder Bursitis (fluid-filled sac that provides a cushion between a bone and tissues)
Calcific Tendonitis
Rotator Cuff Tears
Bicipital Tendonitis

5 Great stretches for Shoulder pain

1. Doorway stretch

Warm up your muscles by standing in an open doorway and spreading your arms out to the side.
Grip the sides of the doorway with each hand at or below shoulder height, and lean forward through the doorway until you feel a light stretch.
Keep a straight back as you lean and shift your weight onto your toes. You should feel a stretch in the front of your shoulder. Do not overstretch.

2. Side-lying external rotation

Lie down on the side opposite your injured arm.
Bend the elbow of your injured arm to 90 degrees and rest the elbow on your side. Your forearm should rest across your abdomen.
Hold a light dumbbell in the injured side’s hand and, keeping your elbow against your side, slowly raise the dumbbell toward the ceiling. Stop rotating your arm if you feel strain.
Hold the dumbbell up for a few seconds before returning to the start position with your arm down.
Repeat 3 sets of 10 up to 3 times per day. Increase reps to 20 when a set of 10 becomes easy.

3. High-to-low rows

Attach a resistance band to something sturdy at or above shoulder height. Be sure it is secure so it doesn’t come lose when you pull on it.
Get down on one knee so the knee opposite your injured arm is raised. Your body and lowered knee should be aligned. Rest your other hand on your raised knee.
Holding the band securely with your arm outstretched, pull your elbow toward your body. Keep your back straight and squeeze your shoulder blades together and down as you pull. Your body should not move or twist with your arm.
Return to start and repeat 3 sets of 10.

4. Reverse fly

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Keep your back straight and bend forward slightly at the waist.
With a light weight in each hand, extend your arms and raise them away from your body. Do not lock your elbow. Squeeze your shoulder blades together as you do so. Do not raise your arms above shoulder height.
Return to start and repeat 3 sets of 10.

5. Lawn mower pull

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Place one end of a resistance band under the foot opposite your injured arm. Hold the other end with the injured arm, so the band goes diagonally across your body.
Keeping your other hand on your hip and without locking your knees, bend slightly at the waist so the hand holding the band is parallel to the opposite knee.
As if starting a lawn mower in slow motion, straighten upright while pulling your elbow across the body to your outside ribs. Keep your shoulders relaxed and squeeze your shoulder blades together as you stand.
Repeat 3 sets of 10.