

As we age, many of us develop sore or injured shoulders as a result of repetitive strain or acute injuries from sports like tennis or golf. The shoulder press, demonstrated here, allows you to effectively target your shoulder muscles while minimizing the risk of inflaming a pre-existing injury.
The nature of most shoulder injuries is such that lifting the arm above the head from the side forces the shoulder’s rotator-cuff (the four small muscles beneath the larger shoulder muscles) to become pinched against the acromion (the bony protrusion at the far end of your collar bone). The modified shoulder press avoids this bony structure, allowing you to lift the arm overhead unimpeded.
Because the modified shoulder press is a compound movement, using multiple joints and muscle groups, it is necessary that your technique be as close to perfect as possible. Before attempting this exercise with added resistance, make sure that your technique is perfect with only your body weight.
Technique:
Rod Macdonald
~ is the Vice President of Canadian Fitness Professionals. For more information visit
http://www.canfitpro.com
For Mom and Baby
by Julie Watson