by Mitch Hauschildt, MA, ATC, CSCS
In part 1 of this 3 part series, we showed how we can use Rocktape to improve the Performance Back Chain to decrease fatigue, improve accuracy and ultimately crush the DVRT Clean and Press test. If you missed it, click here.
One major limiting factor for people who are struggling with the DVRT Clean and Press test can be shoulder stability. The shoulders are an integral part of the clean and press test in a number of different ways.
Static stability is needed as you pull the Ultimate Sandbag (USB) off of the floor until you clear the knees. As soon as the USB clears the knees, the high pull begins, just as in an Olympic clean. This concentric pull should be initiated at the scapulothoracic joint, starting the pulling movement and then providing needed stability for the glenohumeral joint to finish the high pull and catch the USB in the front loaded position. Finally, the shoulders are the primary movers for the press component of the clean and press.
One thing to keep in mind is that the shoulder is incredibly complex. This complexity allows an almost endless variety of motion in multiple planes. This is all possible because of the relatively small boney makeup of the joint. We tend to describe the shoulder as a ball and socket joint, but the reality is that it is much more like a golf ball sitting on a golf tee. Thus, the stability of the shoulder is primarily derived from the soft tissue structures in the joint.
Without getting too involved in the small details of the joint (which is beyond the scope of this article), understand that the foundation of the shoulder is the scapulothoracic joint. Regardless of what other training you may do for the shoulder, you must understand that without scapular stability, the shoulder will NEVER be stable.
A great way to make an immediate impact on shoulder stability is to use Rocktape to upregulate the nervous system to improve shoulder stability via a postural taping technique. This technique will improve stability in the shoulder and have a positive impact on all areas of the clean and press.
To learn more, watch the video below on using this taping technique to improve your DVRT Clean and Press.
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