Guest viewing limit reached
  • You have reached the maximum number of guest views allowed
  • Please register below to remove this limitation

Scapular activations

ZiR RED

ZiR RED

Well-known member
I always see people doing the typical swing a 5lb plate around in circles as a half-whit warm up for the upper body. One of major objectives of the warm up is to activate the muscles needed for correct movement (which usually happen to be smaller ancillary/fixator muscles) and work on the ROM. Below is a very easy way to accomplish this without much space or equipment.

[video=youtube_share;AnouoFmrzsY]http://youtu.be/AnouoFmrzsY[/video]
 
I've been finishing my workouts with these like a bozo. I will add them to my warm up post haste.

What is your opinion of band dislocations as a upper body warm up?
 
rambo679 said:
I've been finishing my workouts with these like a bozo. I will add them to my warm up post haste.

What is your opinion of band dislocations as a upper body warm up?
Click to expand...

I like to use them before I perform any sort of over head movement, especially snatches and over head squats. I've seen some suggestions showing they may be damaging to the shoulder, but I think if you do not go beyond the point of pain and use them to supplement a good activation and mobility/stretching program then they are good.

Br
 
In to use another of Jason's tips that will undoubtedly give me "WTF" looks at the gym lol.

I usually set up at a cable and do all different directional shoulder moves, but I'm gonna try this Saturday.

Edit: did these today and I couldn't believe how uncomfortable they were. I got good blood flow to my rear delts and was warm for benching.

Sent from my iPhone using Am.com
 
this will be a good warmup for all pressing movements?
 
I'm loving your mobility/activation threads.


Just a respectful curiosity, have you considered making one thread and posting all the relevant videos for easy referencing? I think it would be an awesome sticky.
 
TexasGuy said:
I'm loving your mobility/activation threads.

Just a respectful curiosity, have you considered making one thread and posting all the relevant videos for easy referencing? I think it would be an awesome sticky.
Click to expand...

Just sub to his log in the workout journals forum. They are all in there plus other good stuff.

Sent from my iPhone using Am.com
 
TexasGuy said:
I'm loving your mobility/activation threads.


Just a respectful curiosity, have you considered making one thread and posting all the relevant videos for easy referencing? I think it would be an awesome sticky.
Click to expand...

Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
 
I appreciate it Josh and Rob. Still finding my way around this site and external links are always appreciated.
 
What's your take on YTWs with really light weight or just bodyweight as warmup Jason? I have taken a habit of doing one massive YTW set of 6 reps of each movement consecutively just BW on an incline bench before my Upper body ME and DE workouts.
 
Celorza said:
What's your take on YTWs with really light weight or just bodyweight as warmup Jason? I have taken a habit of doing one massive YTW set of 6 reps of each movement consecutively just BW on an incline bench before my Upper body ME and DE workouts.
Click to expand...

This is my warmup as well. Subd for response
 
Celorza said:
What's your take on YTWs with really light weight or just bodyweight as warmup Jason? I have taken a habit of doing one massive YTW set of 6 reps of each movement consecutively just BW on an incline bench before my Upper body ME and DE workouts.
Click to expand...

Its a pretty good basic warm up. I see a lot of people using weight, but there ROM or form is a little compromised, so I would suggest just doing body weight and focusing on scapular activation. If that is all you are doing, however, you are missing some serratus activation exercises. A couple good ideas are forward forearm wall slides or reach rock and rolls. Once I get over this illness and back into the gym I'll record a few serratus ant. activation exercises.
 
ZiR RED said:
Its a pretty good basic warm up. I see a lot of people using weight, but there ROM or form is a little compromised, so I would suggest just doing body weight and focusing on scapular activation. If that is all you are doing, however, you are missing some serratus activation exercises. A couple good ideas are forward forearm wall slides or reach rock and rolls. Once I get over this illness and back into the gym I'll record a few serratus ant. activation exercises.
Click to expand...

That would be mighty helpful Jason thanks! And I definitely agree on the lack of ROM for people trying to use too much weight, I mean even 10lbs are heavy hard to execute properly!
 
I'll post these here as well for those not following my log.

Below are forearm wall slides, an excellement movement to activate the serratus anterior, especially prior to over head pressing. If you have any sort of winged scapula than these are a must.

[video=youtube;92nFpkj1htA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92nFpkj1htA[/video]
 
I use these as both an activation or as a strengthening exercise. Make sure you are using a full ROM - push your shoulder blades apart at the start and then fully retract them at the end of the ROM. Do not let the elbows bend, you might even flex the triceps to prevent that from happening.

[video=youtube;G16RsPZga90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G16RsPZga90[/video]
 
ZiR RED said:
I use these as both an activation or as a strengthening exercise. Make sure you are using a full ROM - push your shoulder blades apart at the start and then fully retract them at the end of the ROM. Do not let the elbows bend, you might even flex the triceps to prevent that from happening.

[video=youtube;G16RsPZga90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G16RsPZga90[/video]
Click to expand...

Looks rather good to build the top portion of the scapula right below the traps. I'll give them a shot Jason , thanks!
 
I've been following all your vids and have made a spot in my regime for all your tips so I appreciate the vids. Keep em coming.
 
Here is another variation of the forearm wall slide. By altering the placement of the bands to the elbows and wrists you have the athlete (or yourself) activate the external rotator cuff muscle isometrically while activating the scapula as well.

[video=youtube_share;UAaU15T03RA]http://youtu.be/UAaU15T03RA[/video]
 
Lower trapezius activation and strengthening. An intensified version of the scapula wall slide.

[video=youtube_share;PTSXXhOmDKw]http://youtu.be/PTSXXhOmDKw[/video]
 
Serratus and lower trap activations.

Forcefully protract the scapula, then slide the forearm out as far as possible without losing contact with the floor. Once contact is lost supinate the wrist and lift. Drive the shoulder blades down, do not shrug.

[video=youtube_share;iiCL2JQdFxM]http://youtu.be/iiCL2JQdFxM[/video]
 
Lower and mid trap activation

[video=youtube_share;Ucj5HZFfXes]http://youtu.be/Ucj5HZFfXes[/video]
 
T-spine extension and rotation mobility. Often times t-spine extension (or lack there of) is partly responsible for difficulty during the standing over head press and completing a pullup without the scapula elevating and the thoracic spine going into kyphosis.

[video=youtube_share;_hmt67yfb3A]http://youtu.be/_hmt67yfb3A[/video]
 
You can use this as a plyometric/RFD (power) movement, or as an activation prior to over head pressing.

[video=youtube_share;MO0qQJIqvQQ]http://youtu.be/MO0qQJIqvQQ[/video]
 
These are very good exercises for strengthening the shoulder. We use a lot of the band exercises to increase shoulder strength, and do a lot of scapular stab exercise, and exercises with PNF patterns.
 
I greatly appreciate all you do here on this forum. Your videos are excellent help for me personally. Your expertise is a blessing here on A.M.
Keep those vids coming..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top