Shoulder External Rotator Exercises (Activation)

This course describes infraspinatus and teres minor exercises, commonly referred to as shoulder external rotator activation. Performing external rotation, with the addition of flexion and adduction of the shoulder joint, may improve recruitment (isolation) of this important muscle. The infraspinatus and teres minor act as stabilizers and external rotators of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint. It is common to include these exercises in a program designed to address shoulder dysfunction. Addressing these signs has been correlated with improving and reducing the risk of shoulder pain, rotator cuff injury, shoulder impingement syndrome, shoulder instability (hypermobility), thoracic kyphosis, scapular dyskinesis, lateral epicondylitis, and improving sports performance. Movement professionals (personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) should consider adding these exercises to their repertoire with the intent of improving patient/client outcomes from their integrated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions.

Isolated Muscle Activation Exercises:

• Chest Out/Thumbs Out
• External Rotation Progression at 90 degrees of Flexion + Scapular Stabilization
• Deep Cervical Flexor Activation and External Rotator Activation

Reactive Muscle Activation Exercises

• Body Blade

Subsystem Integration Exercises

Last, it is important to integrate the increase in infraspinatus and teres minor activity into functional exercise. The Brookbush Institute accomplishes this with intrinsic stabilization subsystem and posterior oblique subsystem integration. Some example movements for these purposes include:

• Quadruped with arm Raise (ISS)
• Dynamic Quadruped (Quadruped Crawl)
• Squat To Row (POS)
• Reverse Lunge To Row (POS)

Caption: A posterior rotator cuff activation exercise