Got Shoulder Problems? How’s your breathing?
Written on May 20, 2008 at 11:02 am, by Eric Cressey
Q: I noticed you mentioned breathing patterns as a potential issue that a good PT should address. Tony briefly explained how this relates to overall shoulder function in his Limiting Factors article if I remember correctly, and it seems to be a subject that’s been popping up quite a bit recently.
Would it be possible for you elaborate on this even further? Even just throwing out some random thoughts you may have on the topic would be great
A: Think of what happens when air enters the chest: the shoulders rise. Most people are extremely tight in levator scapulae already – so elevating the rib cage, clavicle, and scapulae further is only going to exaggerate things. Learn to breath into the belly, and you can put levator scapulae on slack a bit more.
The fundamental problem is that levator scapulae is a downward rotator of the scapula – and when it’s tight, it makes it difficult to get appropriate upward rotation to allow for safe overhead motion. This compromises the space through which the rotator cuff tendons pass. Gray Cook’s Secrets of the Shoulder delves into this in some detail.
Eric Cressey
Click here to purchase the most comprehensive shoulder resource available today: Optimal Shoulder Performance – From Rehabilitation to High Performance.
Category Blog | Tags: Building The Efficient Athlete, Gray Cook, Magnificent Mobility, Rotator Cuff Exercises, Rotator Cuff Rehab, Shoulder Exercises, Shoulder Health, Shoulder Impingement, Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Rehab, Unstable Surface Training, Weight Lifting Program, Weight Lifting Routine, Workout Program, Workout Routine
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