It Only Takes 30 Minutes A Week To Improve Shoulder Mobility
Imagine performing everyday movements like showering, putting your hair in a ponytail, getting dressed, and reaching for groceries off a high shelf with total ease. Those are all signs of good shoulder mobility.
Mobility is the ability to actively move a joint through a complete range of motion, "ideally without pain and with ease of movement and coordination,” says Colette Nguyen, CPT, a certified personal trainer and trainer at Soho Strength Lab. “Having adequate mobility allows you to move your body as desired with relative comfort and efficiency.”
The best cocktail for mobile shoulders, in particular, includes a combination of soft tissue work, dynamic movement, isometric holds in various positions, and loaded movements to strengthen healthy shoulder movement and shoulder stability,” says Nguyen.
Meet the expert: Colette Nguyen, CPT, is an ACE-certified personal trainer and trainer at Soho Strength Lab.
The shoulder is a complex system that involves multiple bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These all work together to allow you to perform your go-to movements in and out of the gym, according to Nguyen.
No matter what your starting point, you can improve your shoulder mobility with these effective exercises, recommended by Nguyen. Keep in mind that change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to see progress depending on your current ability and overall wellness, says Nguyen. You should see improved range of motion within four weeks of consistent mobility work.
Best Shoulder Mobility Exercises
Whether your shoulder range of motion is extremely limited, or your joints feel smooth and well-oiled, try these exercises for an efficient (the whole routine will only take 10 minutes!) routine to improve your shoulder mobility, programmed by Nguyen.
Follow along with Nguyen in the video here to learn how to do each shoulder mobility move:
Mobility work can be done any time of the day that fits with your schedule, and *at least* three times a week to see progress, says Nguyen. “It can serve as a warm-up, a cooldown, or a maintenance routine on your rest days. You could also do it first thing in the morning to energize you for the day, or close to bedtime to help you feel more relaxed before crawling into bed,” she adds. Let's go!
1. Shoulder Circles
How to:
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and maintain a tall, upright posture.
Keep your arms slightly away from your torso and begin to perform big, exaggerated circular shrugs moving your shoulders in a forward motion.
Pause, then reverse the direction of the circles. Complete 10 reps in each direction.
2. Head Isolations
How to:
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and maintain a tall posture.
Without moving your shoulders, nod your head down to look at your chest and pause for a second.
Gently tilt your chin up toward the ceiling (think of nodding in a “yes” motion). Complete 10 reps in each direction.
Without moving the shoulders, gently turn your face from left to right, pausing for a second on each side (think of nodding in a “no” motion). Complete 10 reps in each direction.
Tilt your head and lower each ear toward its respective shoulder moving from left to right (think of nodding in a “maybe” motion), pausing for a second on each side. Complete 10 reps in each direction.
3. Egyptian Reach
How to:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and maintain a tall posture.
Reach and hold both arms out to the sides in a T position, with your palms rotated toward the ceiling.
Slowly internally rotate one shoulder until you reach your maximum range of motion.
Hold this position for a few seconds before slowly releasing back to the neutral T position. Complete 10 reps on each side.
4. Shoulder Circumduction
How to:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and maintain a tall, upright posture.
Place each hand on the tops of your shoulders with your elbows pointing out.
Trace small- to medium-sized circles with your elbows in a forward motion.
Repeat in the opposite direction. Complete 20 reps in each direction.
5. Straight-Arm Shoulder Circumduction
How to:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and maintain a tall posture.
Hold both arms outward to the sides in a T position with your hands closed into fists.
Keep your elbows straight and actively reach outward as you quickly trace small circles with your fists at a moderate to quick pace in a forward motion before reversing direction. Complete 20 reps in each direction.
Floor Shoulder Mobility Exercises
1. Quadruped Scap Pushup
How to:
Start on the floor on your hands and knees with a neutral spine.
Keep your elbows straightened and push your upper back out as if you were forming a turtle shell across your upper back (you should feel a stretch).
Hold this position for 20 seconds before slowly releasing back to the neutral spine starting position.
Then, without holding the position at the top, repeat the range of motion at a moderate pace for 10 reps.
2. Modified Side Plank And Rotational Reach
How to:
Start in a half-side plank with your knees folded, right forearm on the ground, and left arm reaching toward the ceiling. Be sure to place the supporting elbow directly underneath the shoulder.
Keep your hips pressed up as high as possible and reach the left hand underneath the torso as if you are giving yourself a hug.
Pause for a second.
Return to the starting position with your left arm back up reaching toward the ceiling. Complete 10 reps on each side.
3. Prone Swimmer Row
How to:
Lie on the floor face-down with your arms extended and angled slightly away from the torso (forming the letter “A”), with both hands held in fists and your thumbs touching the floor.
Keep a long neck and your elbows straightened as you lift your fists behind you until you hit the edge of your range of motion (maintain the A shape).
Hold this position for 10 seconds.
Slowly release arms back to the floor.
Next, without holding the position at the top, repeat the range of motion at a moderate pace for 10 reps.
4. Prone Swimmer
How to:
Lie on the floor face-down with your arms lengthened overhead.
Begin the movement by lifting only your arms off the floor (keep your head and torso down) and reaching out and down as if you are tracing the circumference of a big circle with your fingertips.
As you approach the bottom half of the movement, allow the arms to rotate naturally to touch the lower back.
Reverse the movement to return to the starting position and release the arms all the way down to the floor. Complete 10 reps.
5. Prone Isometric Chest Press
How to:
Lie on the floor face-down and place your hands comfortably on either side of your chest with the elbows pointing upwards (think of this as the bottom position of a pushup).
Keep your hands wide and evenly planted as you push both palms into the floor with firm, consistent pressure while keeping your head and torso on the floor.
Hold for 20 seconds, then release the press.
Next, without holding the position at the top, repeat the range of motion at a moderate pace for 10 reps.
6. Child’s Pose
How to:
From a kneeling position, sit on your feet and lean your torso on top of your thighs with the arms stretched overhead on the floor. You can widen the knees as needed to get into a more comfortable position.
Keep the arms long and press the hands firmly into the floor while pushing your back out toward the ceiling. Hold for 20 seconds.
Walk your hands over toward one side, keeping the arms long, and press the hands firmly into the floor while pushing the opposing armpit/ribcage out. Hold for 20 seconds before repeating on the other side.
Pro tip: For an additional stretch, Nguyen recommends externally rotating your arms so your thumbs point up toward the ceiling as you perform the move in each position.
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