Many golfers do not pay attention to the function of their rotator cuff and its critical role in the golf swing until they’ve had an injury to that area. Golfer can develop tendinitis, bursitis, and tears in the rotator cuff due to the repetitive motion of the golf swing and from weak muscles.
The best prevention is to strengthen the shoulders. The following exercises will strengthen the muscles that comprise the rotator cuff:
1. External Rotations-Lay on your side, supporting your head with your hand. Place your elbow on your hip and bend your arm in a 90-degree angle with palm facing the ground. Using a light hand weight, lift and lower your arm, rotating your shoulder through a complete range of motion. Do 20 to 25 repetitions on both shoulders.
2. Internal Rotations-Lay on your side, your head supported by pillows or a rolled up towel. Holding a hand weight, place your arm in a 90-degree angle, with your upper arm resting on the ground and your palm facing the sky. Raise your arm up and down, rotating your shoulder through a complete range of motion. Do 20 to 25 repetitions on both shoulders. Increase the weight as you progress.
Find out how you can retool your swing after rotator cuff surgery in my latest article in the March/April may edition of Golf Fitness Magazine available at newsstands everywhere.
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Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com
MY GOSH swing plane has nothing to do with taking pressure off of the rotator cuff!! Baseball players get torn rotator cuff's with crappy swings and they have a flat swing plane. Players must keep the arm connected to the shoulder which INCLUDES the Pec and Lat muscles which you touched on. The key to taking pressure off is players MUST hinge the left elbow while keeping the arm Connected at 100 miles per hour. Simple Physics dictate this not me!! Anybody can do this with an upright or flat swing if they learn the simple fundementals that are in ALL great swings. Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com