October-Overhead exercise

by Aram Kumar, CSCS

The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body. The many parts that come together to create your entire shoulder joint allow it to move more freely than any other joint in the body. The shoulder can move in any plane or direction, but with this freedom of movement comes great risk! The shoulder’s superpower of mobility puts it at an increased risk of injury because it is much easier to put the shoulder into a vulnerable position when lifting weights or performing daily activities (especially when lifting things overhead). It is incredibly important to prioritize shoulder stability exercises in your workout program if you are someone who likes to lift objects over your head, whether that be in the gym or at home.

The shoulder joint is stabilized by the Rotator Cuff muscles:

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapularis

These muscles work together to stabilize the shoulder through its full range of motion and should be strengthened consistently to improve shoulder stability. If you have poor shoulder stability, you may put yourself at increased risk of a serious shoulder injury, or you may experience pain any time you raise your arms. The video below provides a great progression of some exercises that can be done to improve your shoulder stability so you can start using your shoulders with less pain and more confidence.