This VIRAL back stretch… debunked. #shorts #stretching

Shoulders or upper back? 

I have extreme hypermobility with my shoulder internal rotation. The fact that I still feel a stretch in my shoulders and not my upper back tells me that most people will likely feel this in their shoulders, if they can even achieve this position in the first place. And some people should not even attempt this. If you know you have a tendency to dislocate or sublux your shoulders sit this one out.

The instructions for this particular exercise are to hold this position and breathe for 30 seconds so that you open up the upper back. Well, it feels good, but it’s a stretch for the internal rotation of the shoulders first and foremost. And it’s an intense one at that. Most people would not be ideal candidates for this exercise. It’s a great example of how a video being viral doesn’t mean it’s accurate, useful, or safe.

You could achieve a much greater stretch for the upper back by doing the same exercise with a large pillow or cushion between your chest and your thighs – no exorcism shoulder rotation required. 

If you are someone that has a tremendously tight and painful back, maybe you do feel this wild stretch in the back just because you are folding forward.

As with any exercise, there is always individual variation from person to person. If ten people do a bicep curl, some people might feel it closer to the shoulder while others feel it closer to the elbow. Both are fine. 

Let us know where you feel this or whether or not you can even achieve it! Be gentle with it.

#shouldermobility #shoulderstretch #upperbackmobility #backmobility #backstretch #ribpain #backpain #shoulderpain #heds #eds #hypermobility #hsd