I found this article, at the library database, that deals with preventing shoulder injury. Most of the article talks about preventing weight lifting injuries, but the part I'm posting here talks about the rotator cuff, which all slingers should know about. The article says:


    "Rotator cuff. Four small muscles go around the shoulder joint like a cuff and hold your arm firmly in the socket. They are collectively known as the rotator cuff muscles. They can easily become irritated and inflamed when they are weak and overused.

    If you lift heavy weights, it is a must to strengthen these muscles. Likewise, if you do sports like badminton or tennis which require repetitive overhead movements.

    Older people also need rotator cuff strengthening because the muscles atrophy as people age.

    The exercises can be done with dumbbells, rubber tubing or special weight machines. For instructions using dumbbells, go to www.tinajuanfitness.info, click on exercises, click on shoulders, then click on External Rotator Cuff with Dumbbells or Internal Rotator Cuff with Dumbbells."

I second this. I injured my shoulder slinging. It hurt for almost a year before I finally started doing rotary cuff exercises with weights. The pain went away within a week and has never come back.

this is really great.  i wasn't really sure how to exercise these muscles other than by slinging alot, and that can lead to injury.  thanks.