Rotator cuff muscles function
What is the Rotator Cuff Muscles Function?
The main rotator cuff muscles function is to stabilize, protect and control the shoulder joint during the arm movement. They provide dynamic stabilization to the shoulder joint and are involved in every activity which involves arm moving.
They are especially active as contrary muscles to m. deltoideus. That means that they are ‘fighting’ against the deltoideus muscle to maintain the optimal position of the shoulder joint by keeping the head of the overarm bone in contact with the shoulder blade.
That event occurs when you are going down with your arm. This is extremely important to know if you want to understand the rotator cuff muscles function.
Here is a list of rotator cuff muscles function in the shoulder joint:
- External rotation
- Internal rotation
- Lifting the arm to the side, also known as abduction (mostly to 30 degrees)
- Stabilization during arm movements
Rotator Cuff Shoulder Muscles
The rotator cuff muscle group includes four muscles: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. If you are not a medical practitioner, that will not make any sense to you.
On the other hand, you may hear some of those muscle names from fitness enthusiasts or trainers. Unfortunately, very few of them are educated enough to fully understand the rotator cuff muscle function and to explain it to other people.
This text is written by health professionals so you can get a better understanding of the rotator cuff muscle function.
Rotator cuff muscles function:
- Supraspinatus – Lifting your arm to the side
- Infraspinatus – Rotating your arm externally
- Subscapularis – Rotating your arm internally
- Teres minor – Assisting in external rotation of the arm
Those muscles origin from the shoulder blade and attach to the overarm bone, also knows as the humerus. They are very sensitive which means that any kind of injury can create potential further problems such as muscle atrophy, chronic muscle pain or reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint.
Importance of Rotator Cuff Muscles Function?
Since the shoulder joint is the joint that has the widest range of motion in our body, it is pretty unstable also. One of the basic rotator cuff muscles function is to maintain proper stability in the shoulder joint, during any arm movement.
With stability compromised, both joint and muscle health suffers. Unstable joints lead to increased risk for sports injuries and further damage of the surrounding tissue, as much as to poor posture.
Another major reason for having healthy rotator cuff muscles is sports performance. Any kind of sports activity which includes repeated arm movement will benefit from healthy and strong rotator cuff muscles.
Rotator cuff injury is very common among people who complain about shoulder pain and because of that, it’s important to maintain healthy rotator cuff muscles function. Repetitive activity or falling on your arm is the most well-known reason for injuring the rotator cuff.
How to Improve Rotator Cuff Muscles Function?
Improving the rotator cuff muscles function consist of finding the main cause for decreased muscle function and trying to restore the balance between muscles and surrounding tissues.
By adjusting any of the things that influence the shoulder muscle’s health, you will enhance your shoulder health greatly.
What Can Cause Reduced Rotator Cuff Muscles Function?
- Poor posture such as rounded shoulders and scoliosis.
- Overactive Trapezius muscle, the upper part.
- Reduced external/internal rotation of the arm.
- Previous shoulder injury.
- The repetitive daily motion of the arm.
- Reduced muscle strength.
Several negative elements combined can reduce greatly rotator cuff muscles function and compromise shoulder joint health. Start with improving one thing at a time and improve your shoulder health today.
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