One of the best ways to strengthen your shoulders is to do a series ofrotator cuffexercises withresistance bands. Your rotator cuff consists of four muscles that work to stabilize your shoulder and allow you to lift and rotate your arm.Common causes forshoulder paininclude arthritis, rotator cuff tears, or shoulder dislocations.In these cases,physical therapymay be prescribed to decrease pain, improve yourrange of motion (ROM), and increase strength. Part of therapy involves active exercises to help you regain mobility in your shoulder.This article describes rotor cuff band exercises that may be prescribed in physical therapy to strengthen your shoulder and rotator cuff muscles.Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist before starting any exercise program and before attempting the exercises in this article, especially if you have a rotator cuff injury.Before starting these strengthening exercises, you must obtain a resistance band. You can purchase these bands at your local sporting goods store, or your local outpatient physical therapy clinic might be happy to provide you with some for a small fee.Be sure to get the right resistance. Usually, different color bands indicate different amounts of resistance in the band. Again, a quick consult with your physical therapist here can ensure that you are using a band with the proper resistance.

One of the best ways to strengthen your shoulders is to do a series ofrotator cuffexercises withresistance bands. Your rotator cuff consists of four muscles that work to stabilize your shoulder and allow you to lift and rotate your arm.

Common causes forshoulder paininclude arthritis, rotator cuff tears, or shoulder dislocations.In these cases,physical therapymay be prescribed to decrease pain, improve yourrange of motion (ROM), and increase strength. Part of therapy involves active exercises to help you regain mobility in your shoulder.

This article describes rotor cuff band exercises that may be prescribed in physical therapy to strengthen your shoulder and rotator cuff muscles.

Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist before starting any exercise program and before attempting the exercises in this article, especially if you have a rotator cuff injury.

Before starting these strengthening exercises, you must obtain a resistance band. You can purchase these bands at your local sporting goods store, or your local outpatient physical therapy clinic might be happy to provide you with some for a small fee.

Be sure to get the right resistance. Usually, different color bands indicate different amounts of resistance in the band. Again, a quick consult with your physical therapist here can ensure that you are using a band with the proper resistance.

1

Shoulder External Rotation

Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions. After a set of 10 to 15 repetitions, you are ready to move on to the next exercise.

2Shoulder Internal RotationBrett Sears, PT, 2012With your resistance band still attached to the door, turn around 180 degrees and hold the end of your band in the hand of the shoulder you are exercising. You should still be perpendicular to the door. You may need to step away from the door a step or two to keep tension on the band. To do the internal rotation:Keep your elbow bent 90 degrees and tucked into the side of your body. This time, though, your hand starts near the doorknob.Slowly pull your hand in toward your navel. Be sure to keep good posture and keep your elbow bent and tucked into the side of your body.Hold your hand into your navel for 2 seconds, and then slowly return to the start position.Repeat this motion slowly for 10 to 15 repetitions. Then move on to the next exercise.

2

Shoulder Internal RotationBrett Sears, PT, 2012With your resistance band still attached to the door, turn around 180 degrees and hold the end of your band in the hand of the shoulder you are exercising. You should still be perpendicular to the door. You may need to step away from the door a step or two to keep tension on the band. To do the internal rotation:Keep your elbow bent 90 degrees and tucked into the side of your body. This time, though, your hand starts near the doorknob.Slowly pull your hand in toward your navel. Be sure to keep good posture and keep your elbow bent and tucked into the side of your body.Hold your hand into your navel for 2 seconds, and then slowly return to the start position.Repeat this motion slowly for 10 to 15 repetitions. Then move on to the next exercise.

Shoulder Internal Rotation

Brett Sears, PT, 2012

A man doing a shoulder internal rotation

With your resistance band still attached to the door, turn around 180 degrees and hold the end of your band in the hand of the shoulder you are exercising. You should still be perpendicular to the door. You may need to step away from the door a step or two to keep tension on the band. To do the internal rotation:

Repeat this motion slowly for 10 to 15 repetitions. Then move on to the next exercise.

3

Resisted Shoulder Extension

A man doing a resisted shoulder extension

Repeat this motion 10 to 15 repetitions and then move on to the final shoulder strengthening exercise.

4Resistance Band Shoulder AbductionBrett Sears, PT, 2012Stand perpendicular to the door that has your therapy band attached to it, and hold the end of the resistance band in the hand furthest from the door. Keep your elbow straight with your arm at your side. To do the abduction:Slowly lift your arm out to the side until it is not quite parallel with the floor. Be sure that your arm stays in line with your body and does not move too far forward or behind you.Hold this position for two seconds.Slowly lower your arm back to your side to the starting position.Repeat 10 to 15 times.A Word From VerywellBy keeping your shoulders strong, you may be able to avoid rotator cuff injuries and help prevent future episodes of shoulder pain. Again, be sure to consult yourphysical therapistor healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.

4

Resistance Band Shoulder AbductionBrett Sears, PT, 2012Stand perpendicular to the door that has your therapy band attached to it, and hold the end of the resistance band in the hand furthest from the door. Keep your elbow straight with your arm at your side. To do the abduction:Slowly lift your arm out to the side until it is not quite parallel with the floor. Be sure that your arm stays in line with your body and does not move too far forward or behind you.Hold this position for two seconds.Slowly lower your arm back to your side to the starting position.Repeat 10 to 15 times.A Word From VerywellBy keeping your shoulders strong, you may be able to avoid rotator cuff injuries and help prevent future episodes of shoulder pain. Again, be sure to consult yourphysical therapistor healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.

Resistance Band Shoulder Abduction

A man doing a shoulder abduction

Stand perpendicular to the door that has your therapy band attached to it, and hold the end of the resistance band in the hand furthest from the door. Keep your elbow straight with your arm at your side. To do the abduction:

A Word From Verywell

By keeping your shoulders strong, you may be able to avoid rotator cuff injuries and help prevent future episodes of shoulder pain. Again, be sure to consult yourphysical therapistor healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Shoulder injuries and disorders.

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Shoulder injuries and disorders.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Shoulder injuries and disorders.

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