The Shoulders: Powerfully Strong Yet Injury Prone. What gives?

The shoulder girdle is a beautifully strong yet injury prone part of the body. Why? One of the most incredible aspects of the shoulder girdle is that it allows for a large range of motion of the arm, yet this increased range of motion makes the shoulder vulnerable to injury. Also, since the shoulder girdle is the top of the trunk, instability in the shoulders leads to less activation of balance muscles, core muscles and trunk stabilizers.

Is exercising enough to keep the shoulder girdle protected from injury? Yes and no. Overuse injuries are common in all people, athletes included, so exercising alone is not necessarily the secret to maintaining an injury free shoulder. Plus, certain exercises and lack of a range of exercises (like too many planks without also performing rotator cuff or pulling motions) can create an imbalance in the shoulder muscles which leaves the shoulder more susceptible to injuries.

It’s important to work the shoulder muscles through their full ranges and also practice stability + isometrics, all while considering form. In other words, stability +mobility + form are key.

All of this said, it’s a bit complicated to follow good form, especially if you’re not sure what that means. That's where taking private sessions and small group classes with an instructor who understands form and function come in.

If you’ve been to the studio, you know that we love talking about the shoulders. Learning about shoulders and addressing potential issues is often a game changer (literally). Oh..and by the way, shoulder problems and neck pain can go hand in hand, so freeing the shoulders tends to free up the neck. Bonus!

To learn more about the shoulders, contact us for a consultation or ask your instructor for tips/tricks. We also publish tips/tricks on our website, YouTube & social media. Let us know if you have questions. We’re happy to help!