Person lying on their back with an arm abducted and elbow bent to 90 degrees, stretching into shoulder external rotation.
Stretching & Relief

Supine 90/90 Shoulder External Rotation

This passive stretch improves external rotation in the shoulder joint. It helps to open up the front of the shoulder and increase mobility.

  • external rotation
  • shoulder stretch
  • supine
  • mobility

Instructions

How to do it

Lie on your back. Position your arm out to the side at shoulder height with a 90-degree bend at the elbow (cactus arm). Allow gravity to gently lower your forearm towards the floor.

Dosage

2 x 20–30 seconds per side

Important

Keep your shoulder blade and the back of your shoulder heavy and firm on the floor.

Common mistakes

  • Lifting the shoulder off the floor
  • Bending the wrist
  • Arching the lower back
  • Forcing the stretch

When to stop?

Stop the exercise if you experience sharp pain, dizziness, numbness, unusual weakness or a clear worsening of your symptoms.

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