Shoulders · Bodyweight
Shoulder Stretch
How to do the shoulder stretch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Timed hold
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Mobility
How to do it
Stand tall and bring one arm straight across your chest. Use your opposite hand or forearm to gently pull the arm closer to your body until you feel a stretch through the back of your shoulder, then hold and switch sides.
- 1Feel a stretch along the back and outside of your shoulder as you draw your arm across your chest
- 2Keep the stretching arm straight and your shoulders relaxed down away from your ears
- 3Breathe steadily and let the stretch deepen gradually rather than forcing it
Common mistakes
- Do not twist your torso just to increase the range; keep the movement isolated to the shoulder
- Avoid yanking the arm inward or pulling into sharp pain at the front of the joint
- Do not shrug your shoulder up toward your ear while you hold the stretch
Muscles worked
The shoulder stretch works the rear delts.
- Rear DeltsSupport
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the shoulder stretch for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed April 2026.