Introduction
This manual will guide you in training your shoulders from the perspective of one who has had shoulder surgery and recovered stronger than ever from it. There are elements of anatomy and physiology included as it is my belief that in order to prevent an injury or rehabilitate from one an astute trainee will want to know how it all works. Knowledge is power in both the mental and physical meanings of the word.
Shoulder pain does not have to be the inevitable consequence of exercise, overuse, or old age. Applying a small dose of common sense will go a long way toward the proper care of the shoulder joint. This recommendation needs to be kept in mind for maintaining an injury and pain free shoulder complex.
Posture plays a big role in maintaining healthy shoulders. Sitting slumped over in a chair with your head tilted forward causes undue stress and strain in the shoulder girdle, not to mention the neck. Driving for long extended periods with outstretched arms caused by a seat that is set too far back will bring on fatigue in this region as well as the reverse situation of sitting too close to the wheel and stretching up and over it to see out. If you watch TV as most of us do, at some point do so without propping your head up on a slant or forcing it to tilt forward on arm rests of the couch. While sleeping place a pillow under your neck instead of under your head.
Constant hammering away at the bench and military press, consistently throwing overhand, and many of the popular swim strokes can slowly eat away at the integrity of the joint. An athlete who is not working on the stabilizing underlying musculature is traveling down a road fraught with dangerous repercussions.