Soft Tissue Prep Part IV: Shoulder Girdle Activation

Exercising with bands isn’t exactly my favorite thing to do but this post is about muscle recruitment and activation.  For a moment, set aside the principals of progressive overload.  This important practice is about establishing neurologic firing patterns to enhance joint stability.  You are creating a familiar pathway to fall back on when you need it.  The following two videos show you how to isolate important scapular stabilizing muscles of the serratus posterior superior, serratus posterior inferior, rotator cuff, lower trapezeus and rhomboids.  With the shoulder I want you to focus on scapular retraction and depression.  There are dozens of ways to do so.  Check out the following examples:

This position draws the humerus deep into the glenoid socket and the retraction avoids internal rotation and upper back rounding.