Rotator Cuff What The Heck Is A Rotator Cuff Anyway?

I know that personally, I had no idea what a rotator cuff was until I started studying the body by way of exercise and weight lifting. Most people have no clue what it is, even when they talk about it. More times than not people, when they do recognize it, recognize a rotator cuff as, that thing in my shoulder that hurts when I move my arm a certain way. Even when I ask people if its a muscle or a tendon, Im responded to overwhelmingly with a shoulder shrug.

So what is a rotator cuff anyway? It is made up of both tendons and muscles. Its function is to help stabilize the shoulder. The muscles that make up the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus muscle, which abducts the arm at the shoulder, the infraspinatus muscle which controls the lateral rotation of the arm and stabilizes the humerus (bone that runs from elbow to shoulder), teres minor muscle which laterally rotates and adducts the arm, and the subscapularis muscle which internally rotates the humerous and stabilizes the shoulder.

In general, these muscles are not made to carry a lot of weight, so rotator cuff injuries are very common. This is exacerbated by the fact that almost no one takes the time to warm up, stretch, or train these muscles. Weight lifters often suffer rotator cuff tears when they use bad lifting form. Sometimes it isnt conscious, but theyll try to force out the last rep or two with no spotter, and their form will suffer.

I recommend everyone do some sort of training for their rotator cuffs. Odds are if youre active in any sport or activity that involves repetitive overhead motion youre going to suffer a rotator cuff injury at some time or another. In most cases, just being older will put you in a higher risk group for such an injury. Remember, since the muscles arent made to withstand large forces, you should use light weights and high reps.

By: Roger Ziggs

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