All Exercises

Assisted Sitting Reverse Shoulder Stretch

Improve shoulder flexibility and stretch your deltoids with this assisted sitting reverse shoulder stretch.

Beginner
Isolation
Static
30s per set10s rest

Description

A static stretch exercise that targets deltoids and improves shoulder flexibility. It involves sitting on the floor, placing your hands behind you and slowly moving your buttocks towards your heels.

How to Do Assisted Sitting Reverse Shoulder Stretch

  1. 1
    Setup

    Sit on the floor with your legs extended or bent, whichever is most comfortable, ensuring your back is straight and chest is open.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Place your hands on the floor behind you, roughly shoulder-width apart, with your fingers pointing away from your body.

  3. 3

    Keeping your palms flat on the floor and your arms straight, slowly slide your glutes forward towards your heels.

  4. 4

    Continue to slide until you feel a gentle stretch across the front of your shoulders (anterior deltoids) and biceps.

  5. 5

    Hold this position for the prescribed duration, focusing on deep, controlled breathing to relax into the stretch.

Tips

  • Control the intensity of the stretch by adjusting how far you slide your hips forward; only go to a point of mild tension, not pain.
  • Maintain a lifted chest and avoid rounding your upper back to ensure the stretch primarily targets the shoulder complex.
  • Experiment with your hand placement: closer hands will intensify the stretch, while wider hands can make it more accessible.
  • For a slightly deeper stretch, you can gently rotate your elbows outwards while maintaining palm contact with the floor.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Rounding your upper back shifts the stretch away from the shoulders; instead, keep your chest open and shoulder blades gently retracted.
  • ×Pushing into pain can cause injury; instead, ease into a gentle, tolerable tension and hold that position.
  • ×Pointing your fingers forward can strain your wrists; ensure your fingers point away from your body for wrist safety and optimal shoulder stretch.

Variations

Related Exercises

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