By Lesley Cuddington, Vancouver Physiotherapist at Teamworks Health Clinic

More than perhaps any other joint in our bodies, our shoulders demand close and careful attention for pain-free, unimpeded movement. Shoulder instability is relatively common condition characterized by loosening of the connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint therefore enabling the bones to move excessively on each other.

During certain movements of the arm, stretching forces are applied to the shoulder joint capsule and ligaments. Shoulder instability can happen with a single traumatic injury (such as falling on an outstretched arm or a traumatic dislocation) or with gradual repetitive movement patterns causing micro-damage (such as throwing, swimming, or overhead activities). Everyone needs to maintain good shoulder mechanics in order to minimize damage to the shoulder

The tricky thing about maintaining good shoulder function is that it doesn’t just require strong deltoids or big traps. Those muscles are important for moving big weight and being strong enough to handle anything life throws at you, but real shoulder function – pain-free, unimpeded shoulder function – depends on certain supporting muscles and joints of which most people are simply unaware.

Here are some good tips to remember:

• Learn what a “good” shoulder position is and how to attain it
• Avoid Pain: some muscular discomfort is ok, but pain is not!
• Maintain good stability and train it through all ranges of movement
• Start strengthening your scapular stabilizers and your rotator cuff before you have any shoulder pain

If you`re worried about your workout technique or are starting to notice some shoulder discomfort, now is the time to see a physiotherapist to start a shoulder stabilizer strengthening program.

– Lesley Cuddington, Registered Physiotherapist