Rotator Cuff Stretch

To perform the Rotator Cuff Stretch, stand or sit comfortably. Raise one arm overhead and bend the elbow, bringing your hand down behind your head.

  1. Use your opposite hand to gently pull your elbow towards the opposite side.
  2. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, feeling a gentle pull in the shoulder.
  3. Switch arms and repeat the stretch.

How to perform the Rotator Cuff Stretch

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Rotator Cuff Stretch using your body weight.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your latissimus dorsi.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your latissimus dorsi rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Rotator Cuff Stretch

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