Assisted Upper-Back Stretch
Seated (stool) · Shoulder girdle and thoracic flexion
An assisted stretch for the shoulder girdle and thoracic flexion, observing contact, stabilisation and compensation separately.
Position and focus
Seated (stool) · Shoulder girdle and thoracic flexion
Starting position
The client sits on a stool with both arms reaching forwards. The trainer stands in front and holds both of the client's wrists.
Movement phases
1. Hold the wrists
Support the client's arms at shoulder height.
2. Round the back
Keeping the wrists in place, ask the client to round the upper back and lean back.
3. Check the response
Check for a stretch between the shoulder blades and the breathing.
4. Return to upright
Let go only after the client has straightened the back.
What the trainer checks
Check that the arms are not being pulled hard and that there is no pain in the shoulders.
Trainer information
Trainer position
Stand in front of the client at a distance where holding the wrists does not pull the shoulders too far.
Contact and support
Hold both of the client's wrists, wrapping them from above.
Stabilisation
Have the client keep the soles of the feet on the floor so they do not slide off the seat.
Compensation
Rounding largely from the lower back, shrugging of the shoulders, the arms being pulled too far.
Easier option
Reduce the range and let the weight of the leg or arm rest on a cushion or the table. Go back to checking a pain-free starting position.
Cues and consent
Tell the client where you will touch and which way you will move, and say, 'Tell me straight away if you feel any pain or discomfort.' Confirm consent before touching and before moving.
Stop criteria
Return to the starting position immediately if the client reports sharp pain, numbness, weakness, a pinching feeling in the joint, dizziness, shortness of breath or anxiety, or asks to stop.
The sources include material for clinicians and carers. This 3D is not yet fully reviewed as a studio procedure and does not replace hands-on training. Do not perform unfamiliar techniques from the 3D alone.
Caution
Work within your qualifications, contract and studio procedures, and check medical history, medication and any pain before starting. This is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Do not perform unfamiliar techniques from the 3D alone. For clients told they have osteoporosis, keep trunk twisting and rounding small.
These English notes describe a prototype model. The stretch, foam roller and resistance band lessons are being produced under the supervision of CoconeRu. Move, reviewed in stages. They are not medical advice or an individual exercise prescription.
References
Each note describes what the whole source covers.
Cambridge University Hospitals — Seated stretches ↗
In a chair: arm across the body, hugging yourself to widen the back, opening the chest, side stretch, back of the thigh, calf, and neck (forwards, sideways and diagonally forwards).
This lesson was put together for this site from the methods for the same area in the sources above. It has not yet been reviewed by an expert.
About this page
It shows a typical way to do the movement. The 3D is a schematic model; it does not decide whether a lesson suits you, prescribe exercise or diagnose anything. Stop if you feel pain or discomfort.
Sources, supervision and revisions