Best Serratus Anterior Stretching Exercises for Flexibility and Pain Relief

This article will show you how to perform serratus anterior stretches from various staring positions.

Tightness in the serratus anterior muscle if often closely connected with forward head posture and/or winged scapula.

Let me show you a few serratus anterior stretches that are actually part of a physical therapy treatment.

How to Stretch Serratus Anterior Muscle

Release Serratus Anterior Muscle

Before stretching serratus anterior, perform this serratus anterior trigger point release.

Lie down on your side.
Place a foam roller or massage ball beneath your serratus anterior muscles (ribcage area).
Extend your arm of the stretched side.
Gently place a weight on a yoga ball/foam roller.
Hold for about two minutes.

Now you can proceed with stretches for serratus anterior.

Best Serratus Anterior Stretches

Basic Side-Lying Serratus Anterior Stretch

Lie on one side and support your body with your forearm against the ground. Push your body upwards, not moving your hips and hold this position for 30 seconds.

Advanced Side-Lying Serratus Anterior Stretch

Lie on one side and place your palm on the floor. Push your body upwards while keeping your body stable. Hold for 30s.

‘Sit on Heel’ Serratus Anterior Stretch

Sit on your heels, extend and cross your arms to one side, pushing one crossed arm forward while using the other arm to resist backward. Rotate your hips backward (posterior pelvic tilt). Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Seated Serratus Anterior Stretch

While sitting on a chair with your arms raised, bend the upper part of your body to one side. Then perform traction with the opposite arm from the side you’re bending your upper body towards. Hold that position for 30 seconds.

Standing Serratus Anterior Stretch

From a standing position place your hands on a bar or something similar. Then lower your body and rotate your pelvis backward. Hold this stretch for 30s.

Standing Serratus Anterior Stretch with Rotation

From a standing position place one hand on a wall or a bar. Rotate your upper body to one side slightly. Lower the opposite hip as much as you can. Hold that position for 30s.

How to Tell if You Have a Tight/Painful Serratus Anterior?

Not having a normal range of motion in the arm and shoulder and experiencing difficulties when performing overhead activities and reaching with your arm forward is a sign of a tight and/or painful serratus anterior.

What Causes Tight/Painful Serratus Anterior?

Upper-crossed syndrome, injury of a long thoracic nerve (which causes scapular winging), constant stress and tension caused by repetitive motion are most common causes of pain and tightness of serratus anterior muscle.

Further injuring the serratus anterior has a negative effect on rotator cuff muscles, making the shoulder joint prone to subacromial impingement syndrome.

Why is Serratus Anterior Important for Shoulder and Shoulder Blade (Scapula)?

Serratus anterior muscle function is scapular protraction and upward rotation of the scapula. This muscle is a key stabilizer of a scapula. When you perform an overhead press or shoulder press, you protract your shoulder (move forward).

You wouldn’t be able to perform those movements without a functional serratus anterior muscle.

Tips When Stretching Serratus Anterior

Don’t bounce into a serratus anterior stretch
Position your shoulder blade before stretching
Breathe deeply – This is super important because serratus anterior is active when breathing
If you experience pain when stretching this muscle, consult with your healthcare provider

Conclusion

Serratus Anterior stretches are effective for improving the function of the shoulder blade and shoulder joint. Having a flexible and functional serratus anterior is key to preventing shoulder pain and subacromial impingement syndrome.

Choose the most suitable serratus anterior stretches from the list and perform them once per day. Good stretching.

Author

My name is Trivo. I'm a physiotherapist and I enjoy exercising, learning new stuff in physio and fitness world, and sharing my knowledge and point of view in this field.

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