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Up-the-Back Stretch

Picture of the up-the-back shoulder stretch

Your doctor or physical therapist may advise you to wait to do this stretch until you have regained most of your range of motion and strength. You can do this stretch in different ways. Hold any of these stretches for at least 15 to 30 seconds, and repeat 2 to 4 times.

  • Put your hand in your back pocket, and let it rest there to stretch your shoulder.
  • With your opposite hand, hold your affected arm (palm outward) behind your back by the wrist. Pull your arm up gently to stretch your shoulder.
  • To progress, put a towel over your opposite shoulder. Put the hand of your injured arm behind your back and hold the back end of the towel. With the other hand, hold the front end of the towel in front of your body. Pull gently on the front end of the towel to gently bring your hand farther up your back to stretch your shoulder.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD
Last Revised November 30, 2011

Last Revised: November 30, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD

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