Standing External Rotation Behind Back with Towel

Stand tall with a towel held behind your back, one end in each hand. Keep your elbows close to your body.

  1. Pull the towel gently to create tension.
  2. Rotate your shoulders outward, keeping your elbows stationary.
  3. Hold the position for a few seconds, then return to the starting position.

How to perform the Standing External Rotation Behind Back with Towel

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Standing External Rotation Behind Back with Towel 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 Standing External Rotation Behind Back with Towel

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