Isometric Exercises for Shoulder

Isometric exercises for the shoulder are often essential in cases where pain has had an impact on shoulder function. Here, we attempt to give you a better understanding of isometric exercises and the many benefits that come with this form of physical therapy.

What are isometric exercises? Isometric exercises are really a way to describe muscle contractions. An isometric muscle contraction is when your muscle exerts force but doesn’t change its length. Basically, your joint doesn’t move.

If you suffer from shoulder pain, your doctor or a physical therapist may suggest different types of isometric exercises, including passive and active range of motion exercises, as well as rotator cuff strengthening.

Benefits and Tips for Isometric Exercises

There are many isometric exercise benefits, including that they can build strength. They are great because they don’t add a lot of stress to the joints.

The list below covers many of the benefits you can get if you commit to isometric shoulder exercises.

Time – Most isometric exercises can be completed in a matter of just minutes, which is helpful for people with busy lives. One of the biggest reasons injured individuals don’t practice physical therapy is that they think they don’t have the time.
Rehabilitation – Doing isometric exercises can improve flexibility and muscles following surgery. This is particularly true when it comes to the ball-and-socket joints such as the shoulder and the knee. It is believed that the exercises can minimize arthritis and reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis, a medical condition whereby the bones become brittle and fragile. People with osteoporosis have a tendency to break bones.
Increases strength – A shoulder shrug after a rotator cuff surgery is a good example of an isometric exercise that can help to build strength. Holding the shrug for just 10-second intervals can be really helpful. You can perform this kind of isometric exercise wherever you are.

Body alignment – Research shows that isometric exercises tend to improve body posture and spine alignment. Studies show a relationship between patients with misaligned spinal columns and issues with joint pain.
Control – Isometric exercises for the shoulder, as well as other parts of the body can help improve control over the body. Part of the reason for this is that deep breathing is often suggested along with the actual movements. The breathing relaxes you and releases any tension you might have.
Equipment – It’s not just saving time that makes isometrics attractive for those who are suffering a shoulder injury; isometric exercises can also save money because you don’t need to purchase a lot of special equipment to do them.
Age – There is no age limit to isometric exercises. Anyone at any age (even elderly) can perform these exercises if given the go-ahead by a doctor.

Isometric shoulder strengthening exercises can decrease muscle elasticity, but only when you do excessive isometrics without doing other types of exercises. The best approach is to spread the isometric exercises throughout a workout. In other words, they should be done in between other exercises.