The 3 Best Exercises for Shoulder Health

When you’ve been in the fitness industry for a considerable amount of time, it becomes very clear that shoulder-joint health is super important. I don’t know any active person that hasn’t suffered from either an official injury or at least discomfort in the neck and shoulder area.

Shoulders, or the joints associated with your shoulders, are amazing. You have so much mobility and move so dynamically in that area of your body. Stop and think about how many positions you can get your shoulders in compared to other joints. However, because the shoulder joint is so mobile, it sacrifices stability. This tradeoff means taking the time to strengthen your shoulders is paramount.

When I consider the shoulders in training programs, I approach them as part of the core. It’s very easy for people to become shortsighted and think that abs are the only part of the body that makes up the core. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Additionally, because one should always look at one’s body as a unit that wants to work together, one has to realize if he or she lacks shoulder stability or rotator cuff strength, he or she may also suffer from other weakness throughout the body. Believe it or not, poor posture caused by neglected shoulder-joint work can manifest itself through hip or back pain.

One fancy term used to describe how the shoulder joint works is scapulahumeral rhythm. This term is used because the scapula and the humerus, two major parts of the shoulder joint, move together in patterns to help joint actions occur. When the rotator cuff muscles are strong, they help support the shoulder joint by holding the head of the humerus tightly in the glenoid socket as the humerus moves. Furthermore, when the deltoids are strong your arms can move well when away from the body.

I’ve simplified a lot about the shoulder above. I don’t want this to become an anatomy lesson. There are actually many more tendons, ligaments, smaller joints and an array of connective tissue that play serious roles in all the movement and health of the shoulder joint. However, the point is simply to illustrate that the shoulder joint is complicated, often not trained properly and essential to core strength and overall health.

For me, training and working out are not just about looking better. Regular exercise should help you feel better and move better, too. A proper training program should help you to stay active and possibly even continue to play sports that you enjoyed in your youth.

With those thoughts in mind, I have listed here my go-to shoulder movements. Whether for strengthening or mobility, these exercises are a regular part of my programs. I use them myself and with all of my clients. Continue Reading