Stretch of the Week: Genie Stretch for Posterior Shoulder
By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS
AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist
Stretch Type: Static
How to Perform: Bring your right arm up to 90 degrees with elbow bent. Lean your right shoulder into a corner to assist in stabilizing the shoulder blade. Bring the left arm over top of the right and reach for your elbow. Keeping right shoulder blade down, gently pull your right arm across your body until you feel a slight stretch across the back of the shoulder. Hold 30 seconds, switch sides and repeat 3-4 times.
Why Perform This Stretch: This is static stretch to address mobility of the posterior capsule of the shoulder (back of the shoulder). This mobility technique assists in internal rotation and adduction (reaching across your body) of the shoulder which are important motions for overhead athletes. You should feel this across the back of the shoulder and upper arms. You should not feel this in the front of the shoulder.
