I’ve seen folks use an Earthquake bar with bands and hanging weights to strengthen “stabilizer muscles” and to “promote shoulder health”. I’ve also seen upside down kettlebell presses promoted this way.
Are these misconceptions or can you please share your point of view on the value of working a few cool down or warm up sets into a weekly lifting routine? Not to gain strength or muscle size, I’m asking from a general maintenance or injury prevention approach. Or is it more of a tool to use when recovering from injury?
Much of this is based on anecdote and how people claim to feel after using such bars or doing such exercises. I’m not aware of evidence validating these exercises/implements for any usually supplied narrative for “stabilizer muscles” or to promote “shoulder health” (oddly enough we have no idea what that phrase actually means). Regarding injury prevention - we should likely stay away from this word regarding injuries as the variables are too numerous to control for. We can certainly discuss injury risk reduction but the majority of evidence isn’t supportive of a particular exercise but rather dosage of loading, fatigue management, and psychosocial coping skills.