POSITIONING/ PHASE ONE
- place hands on alternating handle bars
- the machine should be high enough so that the shoulder that is up (forward flexion) starts to feel the stretch in the muscle.
- the other shoulder that is not in extension, should be in front of you.
- you should be about arms length away from the machine, so that the shoulder that isn't up, is straight in front of you.
PULL DOWN PHASE (PART ONE)
- Pull down the ladder tool by bending (flexing) the elbow and pulling the shoulder down (extension), this part of your body is doing all the work.
- Start to let go of the other handle with your other hand as you are pulling down the ladder.
- Glenohumeral Joint:
- Pectoralis major upper fibers in sagittal plane to flex joint and reach for ladder.
- Deltoid anterior fibers in sagittal plane to flex joint and reach for ladder.
- Pectoralis major lower fibers, concentrically, in sagittal plane to extend joint to pull down ladder.
- Subscapularis, concentrically, in sagittal plane to extend joint to pull down ladder.
- Latissimus dorsi, concentrically, in sagittal plane to extend joint to pull down ladder.
- Teres major, concentrically, in sagittal plane to extend joint to pull down ladder.
- Teres minor, concentrically, in sagittal plane to extend joint to pull down ladder.
- Elbow/ Radioulnar Joints:
- Biceps brachii long head, concentrically, in sagittal plane to flex elbow to pull down ladder.
- Biceps brachii short head, in sagittal plane to flex elbow to pull down ladder.
- Brachialis, in sagittal plane to flex elbow to pull down ladder.
- Brachioradialis, in sagittal plane to flex elbow to pull down ladder.
- Triceps brachii long head in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Triceps brachii lateral head in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Triceps brachii medial head in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Anconeus in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Wrist/ Hand Joints:
- Flexor carpi radialis in sagittal plane to slightly flex wrist when grabbing for ladder.
- Palmaris longus in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Flexer carpi ulnaris in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Flexor digitorium superficialis in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Flexor digitorium profundus in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Flexor pollicis longus in sagittal plane to extend elbow to reach for ladder.
- Extensor carpi ulnaris in sagittal plane to extend wrist to pull ladder down.
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis in sagittal plane to extend wrist to pull ladder down.
- Extensor carpi radialis longus in sagittal plane to extend wrist to pull ladder down.
- Extensor digitorum in sagittal plane to extend wrist to pull ladder down.
- Extensor pollicis longus in sagittal plane to extend wrist to pull ladder down.
- Flexor digitorum superficialis, concentrically, to flex fingers around handles of ladder.
- Flexor pollicis longus, concentrically, to flex fingers around handles of ladder.
- Extensor digitorum in sagittal plane to extend fingers to let go of handles of ladder.
- Extensor indicis in sagittal plane to extend fingers to let go of handles of ladder.
- Extensor digiti minimi in sagittal plane to extend fingers to let go of handles of ladder.
- Extensor pollicis longus in sagittal plane to extend fingers to let go of handles of ladder.
- Extensor pollicis brevis in sagittal plane to extend fingers to let go of handles of ladder.
PULL DOWN PHASE (PART TWO)
- shoulder that was originally in the up position should now be in front of you.
- shoulder that was originally in front of you, should now be in the up position.
PULL DOWN PHASE (COMPLETED TRANSITION)
- now arms should be in the opposite places than where they originally started from.
- continue the steps for three minutes.
Drill/ Home Exercise:
The following is a home exercise to help with shoulder flexion.