The Importance of Caring for Your Rotator Cuff During Arm Workouts: Expert Advice

Personal Trainer Emphasizes Importance of Rotator Cuff Health During Arm Workouts

When hitting the gym for an arm workout, many people focus on toning, bulking, or planning their post-workout meal. However, NASM-certified personal trainer Chris Pabon from Blink Fitness wants to remind fitness enthusiasts to prioritize their rotator cuff health.

According to Pabon, paying attention to your rotator cuff, elbows, and wrists is crucial during arm training. Any issues with one of these areas can potentially affect the others, especially if proper form is not maintained. Pabon emphasizes the importance of warming up and cooling down, suggesting banded internal and external rotations to prime the shoulders and elbows for the workout.

“Grab a band with your palms up, elbows in by the ribs, and your chest high — pull [the band] apart. If your rotator cuffs are burning, you’re doing it right,” says Pabon.

In addition to a thorough warm-up and cool-down routine, Pabon stresses the significance of practicing proper form during exercises. For bicep curls, he advises keeping the chest up and the shoulder blades retracted down. When performing triceps exercises, it’s essential to ensure that only the elbow is in motion to prevent the shoulders from assisting the movement.

For instance, during tricep kickbacks, Pabon instructs keeping the elbows locked into the ribs and avoiding excessive extension that could internally rotate the shoulders.

Pabon’s key advice for arm workouts is summed up in the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By taking the time to warm up properly, cool down effectively, and maintain correct form throughout the workout, individuals can prevent injuries and maximize their fitness gains.

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