Shoulder rotations

[AndrewMeronek]

I've been having right should cramping during extended playing lately, and seeing a chiropractor, who does help. But to the title of this thread: my right shoulder is my "support" shoulder most of the time, as I usually play left-handed. I recently discovered that there is a very particular "stretch" that somehow I've never really properly done before: rotating my shoulder - kind of. I'm actually rotating my humerus (the "top" solid arm bone) as far as it will go (using muscles, not forcing things) and the rotation which turns my elbow clockwise toward my body (to the rear, maybe?) really stretches a muscle on the "back" side of my shoulder that seems to be a primary source of my more general shoulder cramping. Getting that loosened up seems to have made a big difference, and even makes my lower neck feel a bit better.

Is there a name for this kind of stretch?

[timothy42b]

I'm not sure I follow what you're doing.
Are you activating your oblique sling? Sounds possible.

I spend more time on motions to increase scapular retraction because after 30 years as an office worker that flexibility is very low. So I do overhead stretches with a stick, shoulder taps, chinups, scapular retractions in plank position.

In order to throw a baseball or a frisbee forehand, you need three kinds of flexibility: external rotation of the shoulder, scapular retraction, thoracic spine flexion. I have none of the above but I'm working on them.

I have been wondering if my slide motion correctly rotates the shoulder. I think that there is external rotation and pronation on the way out, though it isn't a large amount, based on the Jim Markey video and some reading I've been doing.

[Ozzlefinch]

I'm not a doctor and therefore I won't give you any medical advice. But I will say that it sounds to me like you would benefit from seeing a sports medicine specialist. Take your horn to the appointment and show them what you do, then they can give you proper advice on how to avoid injuries. They are body motion specialists and they do work with musicians, martial artists, and generally anybody that is having issues with activity.

[AndrewMeronek]

external rotation of the shoulder

I think this is the term I was looking for. Thanks!

[SimmonsTrombone]

I’ve found that dynamic stretching rather than static stretching helps me. Dynamic is stretching with movement. Here’s a short video from Harvard medical school that shows some basics.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/dynamic-stretches

I’ve found they loosen my joints, build a little strength, and probably help balance and coordination.