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What is my rotator cuff?

 We all have two rotator cuffs which are very important to our shoulder operation, one inside each shoulder.  Your rotator cuff is made of four muscles that provide joint security (I love this term, a tiny little police force living in your shoulder making sure that the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint remains functioning).  

Why does your shoulder need a police force?  Well the ball and socket joint of the shoulder is a bit rubbish (and also very good *).  It is not like a caravan and car ball and socket joint where you have a deep strong connection (a bit like the hip).  It is more like a scallop shell and a stick with a bulbus end. It fits ok, but really needs lots of tape and string to keep it together.  Your rotator cuff muscles are the police, the tape and the string that hold this amazing joint together.  

The next part is only for reading if you are super interested in the names and actions of the muscles. 

The four muscles of the rotator cuff are:

  • Supraspinatus - This muscles sits at the top of the shoulder as is responsible in part for abduction of the arm, raising your arm up to the ceiling.  
  • Infraspinatus -  This muscles is closest to the body surface when looking at your back. It is in part responsible for lateral rotation of the arm.  The movement of rotating the arm out and away from the body.
  • Teres minor - This muscle is also closest to the body surface when looking at your back.  It is also  in part responsible for lateral rotation of the arm.  The movement of rotating the arm out and away from the body.
  • Subscapularis - This muscle is closest to the body surface when looking at you chest. It is responsible for medial rotation of the arm.  The movement of rotating the arm inwards towards the body

The four rotator cuff muscles work closely with two other muscles the deltoid and teras major which also link the scapula to the humorous.  The deltoid muscle is the squashy bit at the top outer edge of the shoulder and helps the supraspinatus with abduction (raising the arm to the ceiling). The teras major which is closest to the outside of the body surface when looking at your back and armpit works with sub scapularis for medial rotation. The movement of rotating the arm inwards towards the body

Back to the key points.

Shoulder exercise provided by Pilates helps to keep your should muscles moving, strong and stable.  Your rotator cuff muscles hold the whole shoulder joint together, lets keep them strong.  



* Earlier I noted that the shoulder joint (glenohumeral) was a bit rubbish.  I hope you now understand that it is a bit rubbish on its own at being a traditional ball and socket joint.  However it is truly amazing when working with the other structures of the body because it is able to deliver such a massive range of movement as well as being strong. 


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