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Anatomy

External Rotation

Rotating a limb outward, away from the body's midline.

External rotation at the shoulder involves rotating the upper arm outward (like a "thumbs up" position). Strong external rotators protect the shoulder joint and are often underdeveloped compared to internal rotators. External rotation at the hip is important for squat mechanics and helps prevent knee valgus.

Examples

  • Face pulls for shoulder external rotation
  • Knees tracking over toes in squat (hip ER)
  • Band pull-aparts

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