That's Fit

For those of you who may be serious lifters -- or, for those of you who may seriously be thinking about lifting -- I have a very short, albeit vital, piece of advice for you: Protect Your Rotator Cuff.

Without getting too clinical about it, the rotator cuff isn't an actual part of the body, per se; it's more of a term given to a group of muscles and tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. Knowing what the rotator cuff happens to be is one thing, but injuring it is something altogether different. A tear or impingement (or both) can cause a great deal of pain, not to mention permanent injury in some cases. Being someone who has injured his rotator cuff while lifting weights, I can personally attest to the pain and discomfort this nagging injury can inflict.

To that end, I implore you to strengthen your rotator cuff by performing a few very simple exercises: the side-lying external rotation, the propped external rotator, and the lateral raise with internal rotation. Perform each with very, very light weight and do so delicately and with perfect form. They may not seem like they are actually doing anything while you do the exercises, but trust me, they are.

For a better description of how to perform each of the above listed rotator cuff exercises, click here.