2016 Teleseminar Interview #2 - Mike Reinold

Mike Reinold is well known for his knowledge of shoulder and elbow injuries in professional baseball which we will definitely discuss, but we'll also hit on how he started his physical therapy/sports performance practice, his systems of assessing athletes, return to play testing, and bridging the gap between rehab and performance.

Members can download this interview HERE

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Assessing for Lat and Teres Tightness with Overhead Shoulder Mobility

Originally published on MikeReinold.com

Limitations in overhead shoulder mobility are common and often a frequent source of nagging shoulder pain and decreased performance. Any loss of shoulder elevation mobility can be an issue with both fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Just look at all the exercises that require a good amount of shoulder mobility in the fitness, Crossfit, and sports performance worlds. Overhead press, thrusters, overhead squats, and snatches are some of the most obvious, put even exercises like pullups, handstands, wall balls, and hanging knee and toe ups can be problematic, especially when combined with speed and force such as during a kipping pull up.

When assessing for limitations in overhead shoulder elevation, there are several things you need to evaluate. I've discussed many of these in several past blog posts and Inner Circle webinars on How to Assess Overhead Shoulder Mobility.

I am worried about what I am seeing on the internet right now.

I feel like the mobility trends I am seeing are focused on torquing the shoulder joint to try to improve overhead mobility. Remember, the shoulder is a VERY mobile joint that tends to run into trouble from a lack of stability. Trying to stretch out the joint or shoulder capsule should never be the first thing you attempt with self mobilization techniques. In fact, I have found it causes way more problems than it solves.

Think about it for a second...

If your shoulder can't fully elevate, jamming it into more elevation is only going to cause more issues. Find the cause.

In my experience, the focus should be on the soft tissue around the joint, not the shoulder joint itself. The muscles tend to be more of the mobility issue from my experience than the joint. Just think about all the chronic adaptations that occur from out postures and habits throughout the date.

Two of the most muscles that I see causing limitations in overhead shoulder mobility at the latissimus dorsi and the teres major.

Here's a quick and easy way to assess the lat and teres during arm elevation:

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Mike Reinold PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS MIke Reinold Pic small.jpg

Mike Reinold is considered a world-renowned leader in the field of sports medicine, rehabilitation, fitness, and sports performance. As a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and certified strength and conditioning specialist, Mike uses his background in sport biomechanics, movement quality, muscles imbalances, and manual therapy to specialize in all aspects of human performance. He has worked extensively with a variety of professional athletes with emphasis on the care of throwing injuries in baseball players.

Mike is currently the co-founder and president of Champion Physical Therapy and Performance, a physical therapy and performance training facility just outside Boston in Waltham, MA.

Mike is also currently a consultant for the Chicago Cubs baseball club after having worked for Boston Red Sox for many years as Head Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist. He was a member of the 2007 World Series Champion team and focused on keeping pitchers healthy and rehabilitating players back to peak performance. Mike redesigned the medical model throughout the major and minor league systems, developing a comprehensive program to proactively attend to imbalance, deficiencies, and poor movement patterns before injuries developed. He continues to consult with many teams and players around Major League Baseball.

Prior to the Red Sox, Mike was formerly the Facility Director of Champion Sports Medicine and the Coordinator of Rehabilitative Research & Clinical Education at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, AL under the direction of legendary orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. He was involved in the rehabilitation of 1000's of athletes from all sports and levels of play. Mike helped develop many of the leading rehabilitation protocols and return to sports programs that are used around the world.