Achieving a healthy posture and working on our flexibility can be a great way to help us relax and feel better, both mentally and physically. One particular area to focus on is stretching between the shoulder blades, which can be beneficial for relieving stress in the back and shoulder area.
At New Back Chiropractic in Santa Ana, we are here to provide step by step instructions on how to stretch the area between your shoulder blades. Take a look at our two-minute video or browse these four steps to find out how to relieve stress and increase mobility.
Step One — Start Standing and Relaxed
From the standing position, hold your arms straight in front of your body, with your palms facing each other. Flip your palms 180 degrees so they now face outward away from each other. Then cross your wrists, so that your palms are facing each other once again. Press your palms together, starting with light force.
Step Two — Use Your Core
Tighten your core, that is squeeze your abs, to protect your lower back; let your shoulders and head slowly drop forward; and increase the pressure with which you are pushing your palms together.
Step Three — Downward
Now to move the focus of this stretch further down between your shoulder blades, let your arms drop straight down toward the floor as you slowly bend forward at the waist. Keep squeezing your abs to protect your lower back and let your shoulders sink further forward to feel the full effect of the stretch.
Step Four — An Alternative Position
If you are not comfortable bending further forward at the waist and still need a stretch lower between the shoulder blades, slowly raise your arms upward until you find that spot. Emphasize shoulders sinking forward and core protecting your lower back.
And that’s it! New Back Chiropractic has you covered with this four-step routine is an easy and effective way to stretch your shoulder blades. As stated before, stretching between your shoulder blades can help improve your posture, relieve shoulder tension, and reduce the risk of injury. So remember to take a few moments each day to stretch between your shoulder blades for your physical and mental well-being.
P.S. Remember, when your alignment is less than perfect, you have suffered a recent injury, or you have joints that get stuck, soft tissues have memory for what doesn’t work, and we can help. Call for an appointment today!