Arms · Bodyweight
Triceps Stretch
How to do the triceps 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
Reach one arm overhead and bend your elbow so your hand drops behind your head. Use your opposite hand to gently pull the bent elbow inward and back until you feel a stretch through the back of your upper arm and into your side, then switch sides.
- 1Feel the long head of your triceps lengthen as your elbow points up and your hand drops behind your head
- 2You may also feel a stretch through the side of your torso and lats as you gently pull the elbow
- 3Keep your ribs down and your neck relaxed so the stretch stays clean through the arm and side body
Common mistakes
- Do not crank on the elbow or pull so hard that your shoulder feels pinched
- Avoid flaring your ribs or overarching your low back to fake more range
- Do not force your hand far down your back; keep the position smooth and comfortable
Muscles worked
The triceps stretch works the triceps.
- TricepsSupport
- LatsMinor
Kovo programs the triceps 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 triceps exercises
- How to do the bent-over tricep extension
- How to do the crossbody tricep extension
- How to do the cable katana tricep extension
- How to do the cable single arm tricep extension
- How to do the kickback
- How to do the lying tricep extension
Last reviewed April 2026.