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Shoulder blade setting

Guidance

Drawing the shoulder blades together and down works the middle trapezius and the serratus, the muscles that position the shoulder blade under a moving arm.

Start this movement
2.0 to 3.0 m awayYou
On your front, side onLens 0.9 to 1.4 m

Before you start

A session holds exercises. An exercise holds sets. Stop what a rule names and everything inside it.

  • Pain past 5 out of 10: stop the set.
  • Neck pain: stop the exercise.
  • You need to hold your breath: stop the set.

The movement

  1. Lie on your stomach on a firm bed or the floor.
  2. Pillow under the forehead if it helps.
  3. Arms by your sides.
  4. Shoulders relaxed toward the floor.
  5. Neck long and relaxed.

  1. Gently draw the shoulder blades together and down as far as possible.
  2. Ease back about halfway.
  3. Hold 10 seconds.
  4. Relax completely.
  5. Repeat 10 times.

scapula retraction
No published number
Sets
1
Repetitions
10, held 10 seconds
Sessions a week
3
Down
2 seconds
Pause at the bottom
2 seconds
Up
2 seconds
Pause at the top
10 seconds

Sets, repetitions and sessions: Test protocol, moderate confidence.