Rotator cuff exercise, for injury prevention or strength?

[CobraUTAH]

What are rotator cuff exercises for? I used to think it was just for injury prevention and recovery, but can it also be used to make your shoulders stronger and actually aid in the lifts of bench and shoulder presses etc.

 

[Exodus]

polish hammer can give you a bunch of them.

look at the sticky at the top of the page under the active recovery thread by spatts and you will find ton's of demonstrations pictures.

my 2 favorites are face pulls, and db powercleans.

X

 

[CobraUTAH]

I do know what they are how to exercise them my question is do they increase your strength or does exercising them just help prevent injuries.

 

[cmdubs]

I don't have any answers for you, but I know I certainly need to start working on mine. Last few bench workouts I've had some burning and aggravation in the shoulder especially when doing inclines.

 

[b fold the truth]

The fewer the injuries, the more you can train HARD.

I do think that those little muscles help to stabalize the entire shoulder and keep the presses a safer and stronger exercise.

B True

 

[Mike_Rojas]

My shoulders used to bother me a little when I benched. But now I do some cuff exercises with bands as a warm-up, and they don't bother me any more.

As for your question, cuff exercises primary function is to prevent injury, but they also are stabilizers which will help you push bigger numbers.

 

[bignate73]

if your cuff isnt weak, you can put that much more force.

its like someone with a "trick knee" they cant push maximally without there being some inhibition.