Getting the Most From Scapular Exercises

I want to share with you a story about a client that came to see me looking for help with his shoulder impingement.

Like most of my client, he has seen a lot of different people for his shoulder impingement.  Some of them include doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist and physical therapist.

He has had minimum success with the above, he saw my blog and thought he would give me a go.  He has tried the rest, why not try me.

I do like the shoulder and the challenge of figuring out what is going wrong when it comes to what is going on in a muscle imbalance perspective.

Within two session, we have got to a point where he can abduct his shoulder to 180 degrees compared to 90 degrees when he first saw me.

I can’t take all the credit, the big thing is he did the scapular exercises I gave him.

Let me share with you why this client had such great results with his shoulder impingement in just two session.

3 Steps to Scapular Exercise Success

Read the rest of this entry »

As you know, I am really big into scapular exercises and teaching an effective rotator cuff exercise program.

I have another perspective on the shoulder for you.  It is a guest blog post from Tara Keller.  It is the third part of her series.  Enjoy!

Addressing Shoulder Dysfunction Beyond the Shoulder Itself

By Tara Keller, BSc.(KIN), MES

Part III: The Silent Triggers

Leading into this final segment of this article we have discussed the kinetic chain response and how cueing can play an integral role in the retraining of functional movement. This week we are looking beyond the shoulder to the silent triggers of shoulder dysfunction.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have an interview for you with Tim Vagen of Unlimited Athlete.  Tim is a very respected strength and conditioning coach from Kent, Washington.  He is big on shoulders and I was lucky enough to chat with Tim about shoulder injuries and exercise.

I hope you enjoy the interviews as much as I did.

In part 1 of the interview, Tim and I chat about:

- How he began working with injuries

- Being a strength & conditioning coach

- Training elite level swimmers

- Training volleyball players

- Working with other shoulder athletes

- Tips for the fitness professional to help their clients overcome shoulder injuries

- Why the shoulder injury determines the exercises your client gets

- Why thoracic mobility is essential for shoulder injury recovery

- Example of effective thoracic mobility exercises

Tim Vagen on Tips for the Fitness professional on Shoulder Injuries

==> CLICK HERE to watch the video with Tim Vagen on tips for the fitness professionals when working with shoulder injuries

I know the big thing I got from Tim’s interview was the important of t-spine mobility and it is something that I have incorporated into my work with shoulder injury clients.  Plus the exercises he went through were great!  You can never have enough exercises for your tool box.

Now lets head on over to part 2 of the interview.

In Part 2 or the interview, Tim and I chat about:

- Examples of thoracic mobility exercises

- Lack of thoracic mobility leads to compensation in the shoulder joint

- Lack of hip mobility will lead to compensations in the spine and shoulder

- Why to avoid barbells with shoulder press movements

- Use of kettle bells for overhead press movements and scapular stabilization exercises

- Why people that have a tight shoulder often have hypermobile shoulders

- Stretching the shoulder maybe not what is needed

Tim Vagen on Why Stretching the Shoulder Maybe Not What is Needed

==> CLICK HERE to watch the video Tim Vagen chatting about scapular stabilization exercises

The information on the lack of t-spine mobility leads to compensations in the shoulder was a big eye opener for me plus the great tip he gave on getting rid of the barbells was amazing.

I hope you enjoyed the interview with Tim Vagen.  To get more info on Tim Vagen, visit Unlimited Athlete or click here.

I know Tim will be at the NSCA Washington State Annual Fall Clinic and I will be as well.  I am so excited to be heading to the USA to do my first international presentation.  I have made it all across Canada to present but it is great to start heading south and share information on exercises and injuries.

At the NSCA Fall Clinic, I will be presenting on Running Injuries and exercise .  I hope to see you all down there and if you do come to the clinic, make sure to say, “Hi.”

Take care and we will talk to you soon.

Rick Kaselj, MS

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