4 Olympic Ring Exercises for Beginners
What are Olympic Rings and why use them?
Olympic rings, also commonly known as the Gymnastic rings, is another piece of equipment we like to use in the clinic. Similar to the TRX suspension training, olympic rings adds instability and additional challenge to exercise to help increase muscular stability and core strength. Olympic rings are an effective tool to progress body weight exercise throughout your recovery.
Importance of Stability Training
When it comes to shoulder injuries, the rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that help support the humerus bone of the arm, by holding the ball on top of the humerus into the shoulder socket joint. The function of these muscles is to help keep the arm securely in the socket, while still giving the shoulder a large range of motion. With any shoulder injury it is important to help strengthen these small muscles through stability training. Olympic ring exercises, are an excellent tool to achieve this.
Exercises
RING SHOULDER STABILITY | The first exercise is all about pronation and supination of the wrist. Rotate your palms towards and away from your body, while using your core, shoulder and back muscles to hold your feet off the ground. This exercise help increase the activity of the rotator cuff muscles. Remember to keep your movements nice and slow and controlled, and keep your elbows tucked into your torso.
RING DIPS | Remember to keep your core engaged throughout the dip motion. This exercise targets stabilizing muscles around the shoulders, and shoulder blades, including the muscles of the rotator cuff.
RING LEG RAISES | Leg raises on Olympic rings challenges your balance and stability, while also work on your core muscles. Keep your legs straight for the best results. Lift your legs at a fast pace up and slowly lower your legs down to a vertical position with control.
REVERSE ROW SIT BACK | The last exercise also works on your core and shoulder stability, while activating the glutes at the same time. Remember to keep your back straight, and use the rotation of your arms to facilitate as you come up and down.
Check out this video of physiotherapist Patrick demonstrate 4 exercises on the Olympics rings. Patrick focuses on shoulder injury, specifically rotator cuff injuries.
Again, this is an advanced training tool, please consult your healthcare provider, and start with caution. We strongly encourage you to visit us to learn more about ring training and shoulder injury recovery.
Exercises
3 Bodyweight Hamstring Exercises (Minimal Equipment Required)
Do I need to train my hamstrings? Training your hamstrings is important because they are used very frequently in daily life, from bending your knees...
Balance Exercises Featuring the Strongboard
The first in our monthly Health, Wellness, and Fitness series, we will be going throughout the body and telling you all you need to know about an...
Knee Pain: Everything You Kneed to Know
What can I do to relieve knee pain?The first in our monthly Physiotherapy series, we will be going throughout the body and telling you all you need...
Importance of Scapular (Shoulder) Stability
How to fix shoulder pain? Why scapular stability is important Your shoulder joint does not act in isolation to create movement in your arm. The...
Importance of Overhead Mobility (Improve your Weightlifting and Throwing)
How can I improve my shoulder overhead mobility? The shoulders are the most mobility joint in the body. The shoulder is made with a “ball in socket...
Importance of Thoracic (Upper Back) Mobility (Top 3 Stretches Inside!)
Best stretches for back pain? Do you have lower back pain or neck pain? Shoulder pain when lifting objects overhead? Or have slumped shoulders when...