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Is there such a thing as having weak shoulder internal rotators?

4 min read

Asked by: Jennifer Wilson

What causes lack of shoulder internal rotation?

A decrease in IR can often be attributed to overactive or shortened infraspinatus or teres minor muscles, and joint dysfunction due to capsular contraction of the posterior shoulder ligaments. This loss of mobility is so common that the term glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is used to describe it.

How do you strengthen the internal rotator of the shoulder?

Shoulder Exercises: Internal Rotation

  1. With knees bent, lie on a firm surface. …
  2. Rest your elbow on the floor.
  3. Keeping your elbow next to your side, lower your forearm toward the floor, away from your body. …
  4. Slowly return your forearm to your side. …
  5. Work up to 5 to 15 lifts.


What muscles restrict internal rotation of shoulder?

Infraspinatus and Teres Minor limit internal rotation of the shoulder due to its attachment points on the humerus and scapula. Typically, one if not more than one of the aforementioned muscles can limit overhead mobility.

How do you fix glenohumeral internal rotation deficit?

The mainstay of treatment for patients with GIRD is posterior capsular stretching and strengthening to improve scapular mechanics. In patients who fail nonoperative therapy, shoulder arthroscopy can be performed.

What causes limited internal rotation?

A loss of shoulder internal rotation can be due to many factors such as limited muscular flexibility (stiff or tight soft tissues), excessive tightness in the joint capsule, or poor alignment of the shoulder complex (such as poor posture and muscular imbalances).

What affects internal rotation of shoulder?

The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis (Figure 1b). The subscapularis facilitates internal rotation, and the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles assist in external rotation. The rotator cuff muscles depress the humeral head against the glenoid.

How can internal rotation be improved?


And keep turning the torso in the head this way and that'll really activate the external rotators hold for one slow 360 breath expand the chest in all directions.

How do you test for internal rotation of the shoulder?

Position the arm is brought into 90 degrees of abduction. Full internal rotation. And 10 degrees of shoulder flexion as well as the elbow flexed to 90 degrees. The hand is in neutral.

How do you improve functional internal rotation?

Body stretch can be just as good as the sleeper stretch when performed correctly at improving internal rotation of the shoulder. And this is a much easier exercise to perform.

What is shoulder dyskinesia?

When your shoulder blades aren’t stable, you may experience a shoulder disorder called scapular dyskinesis. It is characterized as losing a normal range of motion in your shoulder blades. In some cases, it is a condition of its own. Other times, scapular dyskinesis is a symptom of another health condition or injury.

What is internal rotation deficit?

Hi. And welcome back to physio judo's glenohumeral internal rotation deficit abbreviated as GERD is a sports specific adaptation of posterior shoulder structures due to excessive overload. During

What is throwers paradox?

The thrower’s shoulder must be loose enough to throw but stable enough to prevent symptoms. This is a phrase referred to as the “throwers paradox.” This balance is frequently compromised and leads to injury of surrounding tissue.

What Causes Little League elbow?

What Causes Little League Elbow? Occurs as a result of overuse to the muscles of the elbow and forearm. Doing activities without enough rest and recovery. Examples include: throwing a ball too hard and too often, golfing, swimming, typing, texting, etc.

How is internal impingement of the shoulder treated?

Treatment for Internal Shoulder Impingement

  1. Cessation from throwing and resting your shoulder until the pain is controlled.
  2. Physical therapy focusing on stretching of the posterior capsule, strengthening and balancing the rotator cuff, stabilizing the scapula.
  3. Therapy to improve throwing mechanics.


What is internal impingement of the shoulder?

“Internal impingement” is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms which result from the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the articular surface of the rotator cuff abutting the posterosuperior glenoid when the shoulder is in an abducted and externally rotated position.