In this video, I wanted to go through an excellent mini-band exercise for your rotator cuff.
The rotator cuff is the most common muscle group injured in the shoulder. Having a wide variety of exercises that you can do to target the rotator cuff is very important.
EXCELLENT Mini Band Exercise for the Rotator Cuff
CLICK HERE to watch the YouTube video.
Here are two examples of exercises that you can do with the mini band to target the rotator cuff. I had Donnalee demonstrate the exercises.
Level 1
Start in the 90/90 position. Take the loop tubing or the mini band and loop it around your foot, keeping it firmly around the ball of your foot, so it’s not going anywhere.
Rowing using a Mini Band (Level 1)
With the tubing in your left hand, row back. Bring the elbow back in a smooth and controlled motion, hold it for a second, and then slowly return.
Focus on keeping your wrist in the neutral position (not curling the wrist). Also, focus on bringing the elbow back while the mid-back does the work. This is Level 1 of the exercise.
Level 2
To better target the rotator cuff, do the rowing movement, bring the elbow out to the side, and then return down to the start. So row the elbow up, bring the elbow to the side to a stop, back down, and then return to the starting position. Use a smooth movement as you go through.
Rowing and Lifting the Elbow using a Mini Band (Level 2)
The closer your arm is to your body, the less challenge or stress is put on the rotator cuff. If we are going through the rowing movement, we are not putting a lot of stress on the rotator cuff, but it has to activate to help out. Bringing the elbow away from the body increases the challenge of being put on the rotator cuff.
If you cannot go all the way to 90 degrees, that’s perfectly fine. You can start by just going to 30 degrees, 45 degrees, or 70 degrees.
There you go. If you have a simple mini band around and are looking for something that will help your rotator cuff, give those two exercises a go and pick the best level. Start with the rowing one. If it is too easy and you are not getting much benefit, progress to the rowing with the chicken wing (as I call it) or lift the elbow to the side to 90 degrees.
Final Word
Enter in your injury or pain. There’s a good chance I have an article, a video, or an interview to help you overcome your injury or pain. Make sure to swing by ExercisesForInjuries.com.
Secondly, if you’re watching this on YouTube, head up above and hit subscribe. When you subscribe, you’ll receive a video like this every couple of days where I talk about tips and tricks on overcoming injury or pain.
Thirdly, head down below, hit like, and leave me a question or a comment.
Take care!
Rick Kaselj, MS
If you want to decrease pain, improve range of motion and heal rotator cuff injuries, click here to check out the Effective Rotator Cuff Exercises program.
