How to Do Stretching Exercises for the Shoulder Muscles

Stretching may be the most important element in your regular fitness routine, as it helps to elongate the muscles, improve performance and prevent injury. Shoulder injuries are among the most painful and most difficult to heal, making stretching exercises for the shoulder muscles particularly important. With a few tips you can learn how to stretch your shoulder muscles and prevent injury.

Instructions

1. Begin stretching your shoulder muscles by standing with your face towards the wall. Lift your right arm and step towards to wall, pressing your shoulder and the entire length of your arm into the wall. Make sure that you keep your arm parallel to the floor, your elbow straight and your shoulder and palm flat against the wall during the entire stretch.

2. Hold your arm in place as you slowly turn your body out, breathing slow and deep into the stretch to help deepen and accentuate the stretching of your shoulder muscles. Only go as far as is comfortable, and then hold and breath. On the next breath, try to move a little further. If at any point your feel pain or discomfort, you have gone too far.

3. Deepen the stretch if you are comfortable by gently pressing your arm into the wall, activating the muscles of your shoulder. Hold the pushing motion for two deep breaths and then relax. As you release the hold, you should be able to move a bit deeper into the stretch.

4. Use your breathing to accentuate the stretching of your shoulder muscles. Continue the exercise for 30 to 60 seconds on each shoulder and perform this stretch both before and after your regular fitness routine.