🚀 go-pugleaf

Rotator cuff exercises and the degree of isolation is an interesting issue.
I personally side with Mel on this one but would say that most of the
arguement is based on the definition of 'isolated' muscle actions.

Functional rehabilitation of the shoulder (rotator cuff) should involve the
combined actions of all the muscles - of course there can be activities
which predominate with a certain action but as the load increases the
likelihood of a truely isolated muscle contraction is less. In terms of
resistance training which is assessed by hypertrophy and peak torque
production the athlete needs to use higher loads. The term isolation can
mean not allowing the individual to subsititute to achieve the range of
motion or to meet the load. This area is full of semantics and
definitions... and I'll leave that for another time..

I would like to raise another issue of isolated muscle activity / exercises
- this is particularly pertinent for through range stability of a joint.
The mechanisms involved in sustained low intensity isolated muscle action
is different from 'resistance' training isolation i.e. associated with
'strengthening / hypertrophy'. The purpose of the intervention has a major
focus on motor control issues and possibly breaking chronic pain syndromes.

back to the rotator cuff..Trying to isolate a (rotator cuff) muscle should
be performed at low intensities initially in the open packed position of
the joint. (Some workshop people say less than 30% MVIC - but this is a
ball park figure and I guess they have just used this intensity on face
value). The purpose in doing this would be to alter the motor control
strategy (i.e relearning a balanced muscle pattern) and improve the through
range stabilising capacity at low intensities of muscle activity. This is
particularly helpful for individuals who have a catching pain and who have
problems during functional activities - not necessarily performing maximal
throwing efforts..

Resistance training overload principles follow using functional tasks.
cheers
Garry.


______________________________________________
GT Allison PhD
Senior Lecturer in Functional Rehabilitation
School of Physiotherapy
Curtin University
Selby Street
Shenton Park 6008
Western Australia
voice. (618) 9266 3648 Fax (+618) 9266 3636
<iallison@info.curtin.edu.au>

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