What activities require external rotation of shoulder?
External rotation is needed for example when doing a ponytail or putting your hands behind your neck.
What are external rotation exercises?
Exercises for Shoulder Flexibility: External Rotation

- Stand in a doorway.
- With the other hand, hold the elbow on the side with the involved frozen (stiff) shoulder firmly against your body.
- Standing in the same spot, rotate your body away from the doorjamb.
- Work up to doing 3 sets of this stretch, 3 times a day.
What muscles does external rotation work?
The external rotation exercise targets the infraspinatus muscle which is a very important muscle of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff muscles help to provide some stability for the shoulder joint. The main function of the infraspinatus muscle is to rotate the humerus, or long arm bone, away from the body.
How do you strengthen your shoulders with resistance bands?
Moving your hands closer together on the band will increase the resistance.
- Hold the band and extend your arms straight out in front of you.
- Lengthen your spine and keep your elbows slightly bent.
- Pull the band apart as far as you can.
- Draw your shoulder blades together.
- Hold this position for a few seconds.
What limits shoulder external rotation?

Ligaments. Superior Glenohumeral Ligament: Limits external rotation and inferior translation of the humeral head. Arises from the glenoid and inserts on the anatomical neck of the humerus.
Why can’t I externally rotate my shoulders?
Acromial impingement syndrome, also known as “shoulder impingement” – acromial impingement occurs when your acromion (edge of your scapula) impinges or presses on your rotator cuff during external rotation or when you lift your arm.
What causes lack of shoulder external rotation?
A post-operative shoulder with isolated limitation of external rotation with the arm at the side is likely to have some combination of the following problems: scarring at the humeroscapular motion interface between the coracoid muscles and the subscapularis excessive tightness of the subscapularis and anterior capsule …
What is an example of external rotation?
Examples of external rotation include: With the elbows at 90 degrees of flexion, externally rotating the shoulder brings the forearm and hand away from the body (Figure 21) Rotating the lower limb at the hip joint to point the feet towards each other (Figure 22)
What is shoulder rotation exercise?
exercise. Stand facing a mirror with the hands rotated so that the thumbs face forward. While keeping the shoulder blade ‘set’ and keeping the elbows straight, raise the arms forward and upward to shoulder level with a slight outward angle (30°). Pause for one second and slowly lower and repeat.
How many sets of external rotation are there?
– The external rotators are relatively small muscles and require strength endurance as opposed to maximal strength. I would recommend a rep range of 10-15, performing 2-3 sets on these exercises.
How far should you externally rotate your shoulder?
Keeping your elbows against your body swing your forearms away from your body. This is lateral rotation — also referred to as external rotation — and the normal range of motion for a healthy shoulder is 90 degrees.