Shoulder operation...

Generally the surgery done to help stabilise the shoulder is very successful. My brother keeps subluxing his right shoulder and will be having surgery in Febuary. THe specialist stated that the two types of stabilisation are between 90 - 95 % successful which is a pretty high percentage.

You really need to strengthen your stabiliser muscles of the shoulder rather than the large prime moving muscle around the shoulder alone.

The rotator cuff muscles used in shoulder stabilisation are the Infraspinatus, supraspinatus, teres minor and the subscapularis. Along side these muscles is the deltoid muscle across the shoulder.

The supraspinatus and deltoid really keep the head of the humerous in the glenoid fossa of the scapula - commonly known as the G/H joint. This is an area that needs to be strengthened by completing lateral raises and frontal raises using dumbbells.

Usually, many sufferers of luxations and subluxations have a problem with external rotation of the shoulder. There are fewer muscles and are of smaller size than the internal rotators- lats, teres major and subscapularis. The large muscle mass of these muscles compared to that of the external rotators make it imperitive to strengthen and stabilise these muscles - infranspinatus and teres minor. These two muscles need to be developed to help counter act the size and strength of the lats.

Generally the internal rotators need no further isolation exercises as they are worked doing common exercises- lat pull down and deadlifts. Isolation exercises as intergrated into a strength conditioning programme for your shoulder external rotators would be benificial. These must be performed at the end of a session as these muscles need to be fully functional and not fatigued for bigger / gross muscle exercises.

Resting your elbow on on a support just below elbow height (weights bench is ideal). Holding a light weight, keep the elbow flexed at a 90 degree angle. Lower the forearm until it is parallel with the floor and return. Repeat upto 12 reps, 3 sets.

There are many exercises to do to help. Read the link of contraindicated exercises thread in the coaching or performance forum for exercises not to do. Wih bench press, do not bring bar to chest but about 3 inches from it. Try not to perform behind head shoulder press until you have full external rotation back. With dips, start with shallow ones with a close grip. If these exercises are not inyour prgramme, dont add them in. Wait until you have full external rotation and no pain inperforming other exercises. Rotation exercises should be continued for life - even if you have never hada soulder injury.

You may need to start flexibility training as the internal rotators may be tight. Look at pec stretches to help with this. Send me a private message if you need futher assistance

I have recently returned from holiday where I, while surfing, impacted very hard with the ocen floor. There was a very difinite tearing/crunching sound and the pain was immediate and my shoulder was also immediately useless. This happened just over a week ago and I have been havinhg physiotherapy for a week but am still not able to lift my arm laterally, forward or backwards more than about 30'. Sleeping at night proves quite difficult at times and pretty much everything needs to be one-handed, especially any overhead reaching.

Do you reckon that I may have a torn tendon in the rotator cuff region that will probably need surgery in order to get full range of movement back? I am very active and do a lot of rock climbing and mountaineering and would be less than happy if I couldn't carry on doing these activities as a result of this injury.

Thanks
Clinton