Shoulder injury and exercises for rehab

When we look at athletes or models, we usually notice that they have broad shoulders. Indeed, that term is part of our vocabulary to indicate some who is strong, able to carry a heavy burden. It may therefore come as a surprise to know that the shoulders are actually quite a weak area in may people, prone to injury if not looked after properly.

The reason for this is simple if you think of the movements we require our hands an arms to perform - quite simply, the shoulders have the greatest range of motion of any joint in our body. The greater the range of motion, the greater the susceptibility to injury. Throwing, swimming, swinging a racket, falling badly, all these can cause injuries to this crucial joint. The key to avoiding injury, or indeed recovery successfully after an injury, is good rehab.

Good rehab is a delicate balancing act. Because of the vast range of motion a variety of exercises are required in order to strengthen the joint through all the various movements we require of it. In addition, although there are ligaments which hold the bone in the socket, we require some flexibility of the ligaments to allow for movement. Therefore, any programme needs to allow for just the right degree of flexibility.

Finding this balance of flexibility and strength through all the different movements is the work of a specialist. If you have injured this area, particularly on a regular basis, then seek the help of a qualified rehab therapist. They will design a programme that ensures that healing is maximised, and that injuries do not recur.