Shoulder injuries commonly happen from overuse, car accidents and traumatic blows during a sport. This can lead to pain, inflammation and stiffness. In the worst of cases, surgery is needed to repair tendons or muscles that support the shoulder joint. Surgical bands, or tubing, have nothing to do with surgery itself. They are strictly used for rehab.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The shoulder joint is very mobile. The rotator cuff is a small grouping of muscles and tendons that give the shoulder this mobility. When the rotator cuff gets torn or injured, surgical tubing is used for corrective exercises. These are performed after surgery or to prevent surgery if the injury is not that significant. People who perform repetitive overhead movements are the most susceptible to rotator cuff injuries notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Goal with Exercises
The rotator cuff is a delicate area of the body, regardless of if it is injured or not. Exercises with bands are meant to be done in a safe and controlled fashion that will not put your shoulder at further risk of injury. This makes it vitally important to use proper form. Overall, the goal with exercises is to slowly develop strength and flexibility in the shoulder area.
External Rotation Pulls
External rotation pulls strengthen the rotator cuff. This exercise can be done with a surgical band or any form of rubber resistance tubing. To begin, stand with your feet about hip-width apart. Grip the band with your elbows bent 90 degrees, upper arms tight to your sides and palms facing down. Your lower arms should be out in front of your body at this point. Keeping your upper arms tight to your body, rotate your lower arms out to your sides as far as possible. Slowly move your hands back to the starting point and repeat. To ensure you keep your upper arms tight to your sides, pinch rolled up newspapers or towels under your armpits.
Internal Rotation
The internal rotation is often coupled with external rotation pulls in a rehab program. This exercise requires the aid of a doorknob or some other form of stationary anchor that is at an equivalent height. To begin, secure one end of the band around the doorknob and stand with your affected shoulder toward the door. Wrap the hand of your affected side around the other end of the band and tuck your arm into your side. Your elbow should be bent 90 degrees with your lower arm in front of your body and out to the side slightly. Keeping your upper arm tight to your side, rotate your lower arm across the front of your body. Slowly move your arm back out and repeat.
Resistance
Regular resistance bands come in various strengths so you can gradually increase your resistance as you get stronger. When you use surgical tubing, you can increase the resistance by choking up the band. Take the external rotation pull for example. By moving your hands in closer before you start, you will increase the resistance.
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