Shoulder stability, what is it and why is it important? First, let’s cover stability. Stability is your body’s ability to resist a load and maintain movement through that resistance. A lack of stability (or instability) leads to unwanted movement of a joint that over time leads to breakdown of mechanics and potential injury. Stability requires strength but also a large amount of musculature endurance as well. Your muscles must be able to stabilize over and over in order to maintain proper mechanics.
Shoulder stability is when the smaller muscles of the scapula contract in order to direct your arm in a stable manner. This joint mechanic is very important for activities (especially repetitive ones) from placing items into a cabinet to performing a snatch (movement pictured). Poor shoulder stability often leads to pain in the shoulder or even the elbow, especially when performing activities overhead.
How you can improve stability
The best way to improve stability of a joint is to increase the muscular endurance of the surrounding muscles. Increasing endurance is going to allow the joint to resist unwanted movement repeatedly allowing you lift your arm overhead with good joint mechanics. Check out our social media pages this week for some exercises designed to help you improve you shoulder stability.
Final Thoughts
This is a good way to fix any improper mechanics you may have and can help prevent injury. However, fixing your shoulder stability is not a cure all and isn’t guaranteed to fix or prevent any shoulder or elbow pain.
Every athlete will have different movement faults that needed to be corrected and may not be included in this blog. If you’re not sure about any movement faults you may have or have questions about wellness, movement, or general strength and conditioning set up a screen with one of our qualified physical therapists.
Troy Stogsdill, DPT
Physical Therapist
Shoulder stability is when the smaller muscles of the scapula contract in order to direct your arm in a stable manner. This joint mechanic is very important for activities (especially repetitive ones) from placing items into a cabinet to performing a snatch (movement pictured). Poor shoulder stability often leads to pain in the shoulder or even the elbow, especially when performing activities overhead.
How you can improve stability
The best way to improve stability of a joint is to increase the muscular endurance of the surrounding muscles. Increasing endurance is going to allow the joint to resist unwanted movement repeatedly allowing you lift your arm overhead with good joint mechanics. Check out our social media pages this week for some exercises designed to help you improve you shoulder stability.
Final Thoughts
This is a good way to fix any improper mechanics you may have and can help prevent injury. However, fixing your shoulder stability is not a cure all and isn’t guaranteed to fix or prevent any shoulder or elbow pain.
Every athlete will have different movement faults that needed to be corrected and may not be included in this blog. If you’re not sure about any movement faults you may have or have questions about wellness, movement, or general strength and conditioning set up a screen with one of our qualified physical therapists.
Troy Stogsdill, DPT
Physical Therapist
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