The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilizes the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff tears are common orthopedic injuries often resulting from falls, lifting heavy objects and repetitive arm motion. If you are experiencing pain or...
The rotator cuff includes the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis muscles of your shoulder, according to Dr. Susan Hall, author of the textbook "Basic Biomechanics." They are called the "rotator" cuff muscles because they...
The actions of the hip joint are extension, flexion, adduction, abduction, medial rotation and lateral rotation, according to "Anatomy & Physiology, The Unity of Form and Function," fifth edition by Kenneth Saladin. Extension occurs when...
There are two ball and socket joints in your body--your hip and your shoulder. Consisting of a long bone with a bulbous end--the ball--and a depression into which the ball fits--the socket or acetabulum--ball and socket joints are the most mobile...
Golf is a sport that requires strict and precise hand-eye coordination. Strong and efficient muscular activity positively affects hand-eye coordination. You need to train specific muscle movements to become a top golfer. Strengthening your inner...
Your knees help support your body and are vulnerable to injury and arthritis. Your knee joint allows you to bend and extend your leg. Your knee joint also supports a limited amount of turning, known as rotation. Problems with your knee joint can...
The supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles are part of the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder. The supraspinatus muscle originates on the top part of the scapula, above the horizontal ridge, or spine, and inserts on the head of the humerus. The...
Ball-and-socket joints, called diarthrodial joints, move in three planes. The ability to abduct, adduct, flex, extend and rotate make these the most freely movable joints in the body. Consisting of a ball resting in a socket-like structure,...
One way to do shoulder external rotation weightlifting, sometimes known as lateral rotation, is with free weights and an exercise mat. Lie on your side, supporting your upper body on your elbow, and grasp a low weight dumbbell in the opposite...
The shoulder joint allows you to move your arm in multiple directions. The rotator cuff is a small grouping of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. When calcium deposits build up in the rotator cuff area, flexibility suffers and...
A sticky shoulder, a frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, all refer to scar tissue forming on the connective tissue capsule surrounding the shoulder joint. A sticky shoulder can develop for no apparent reason, but in most people, a frozen...
The gluteus maximus, also called the "glute," is the largest and most superficial muscle of the buttock and is primarily responsible for extension, lateral rotation, and abduction of the thigh. A study in the "Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports...
One of the most common injuries ballet dancers experience is hamstring injury. Causes include muscle imbalances, overuse and overstretching resulting in tearing of the muscle. Damage to the hamstrings can put the dancer out of commission for a...
Limited hip range of motion, or ROM, affects walking patterns, regular daily activities and the skills required for sports. Full hip ROM protects athletes from injuries, muscle imbalances and poor posture. It also provides athletes with the best...
The hip is one of the most mobile joints in the body and is designed to bear a lot of weight. However, due to its high mobility and the excessive forces places on this joint, the hip is prone to overuse injuries. According to ExRx.net, stretching...
The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscle tendons which connect and stabilize the upper arm bone or humerus to the shoulder socket. The tendons are connected individually to four muscles: the supraspinatous, the infraspinatous, the...
Even when they are not on stage, you can tell trained ballet dancers by their tur-out, the lateral rotation of the legs that causes their toes to point outward. While you can emulate turnout by manipulating your knees and ankles, perfect turnout...
The human body consists of three types of muscle: smooth, cardiac, and skeletal. Skeletal muscle, also called striated muscle, is the type of muscle that we typically think of when we discuss muscle. It is the type of muscle that is responsible...
The rotator cuff consists of four muscles and other tendons that connect the humerus to the scapula. These muscles provide stability and rotational control during shoulder or upper arm movements. This group of muscles can become torn or damaged as...
The rotator cuff is responsible for the movement of the glenohumeral, or shoulder, joint. If you have injured your rotator cuff, you may have pain as well as decreased range of motion. Lifting your arm may be difficult, and you may have trouble...
The infraspinatus muscle is attaching to the back of the shoulder blade on one end and to the back of the upper arm bone on the other. It assists with horizontal abduction and lateral rotation of the upper arm within the shoulder socket....
The sartorius muscle is the longest muscle in the human body, running from the hip to the knee. The technical origin is the anterior superior iliac spine (the top and front of the hip bone) and the insertion is the medial aspect of the proximal...
When back pain strikes, the last thing a person thinks of is exercise. However, exercise can prevent and relieve back pain. Therapeutic exercise with chiropractic guidance strengthens the back and relieves discomfort. Before beginning any...
Regular strength training increases your bone density, builds metabolism-boosting muscle mass, helps with weight control, improves sleep and helps with conditions ranging from depression to diabetes. Your upper body is home to many major muscle...
The biceps femoris muscle is one of the three hamstring muscles and is composed of two heads. The long head originates from the pelvis and the short head originates from the back of the femur. This muscle flexes the knees and promotes internal and...
Shoulder arthroplasty is surgery that replaces your shoulder or portions of it with an artificial prosthesis. Shoulder arthroplasty exercises help restore your shoulder's flexibility, strength and motion, according to the American Academy of...
The infraspinatus and supraspinatus are two of the four rotator cuff muscles that act on the humerus bone of your upper arm within your shoulder socket. Exercising these muscles regularly helps increase your shoulder joint's range of motion and...
Before you stretch your lower back, you should learn a little about human anatomy. The main muscles in the lower back are the erector spinae, also known as the spinal erectors. They actually begin all the way up by the skull and run down the sides...
If exercise has become a literal pain in the butt, you may be suffering from piriformis syndrome. The piriformis is a small muscle that is located deep within the hip and buttocks region. It is responsible for lateral rotation of the hip, and is...
Bicycle criss cross is one of the most effective abdominal exercises. Learn how to do bicycle criss cross to strengthen ab muscles with tips from a fitness trainer in this free core exercise video.
Learn about different trigger points for massage in this free video clip on holistic medicine and chiropractics.
