Doorway Pec Stretch

Forearm against a doorframe with a slow torso turn away. Lengthens the pecs and front shoulder, one half of the upper cross pattern that desk work tends to shorten.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Wall
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Chest
ALSO WORKS
Deltoids · Biceps
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand in a doorway and place one forearm flat on the frame with the elbow at shoulder height.
  2. 02Step the same-side foot forward into a short split stance.
  3. 03Turn the chest away from the arm until you feel a broad stretch across the front of the chest and shoulder.
  4. 04Hold for thirty to forty-five seconds, breathing normally rather than pushing further on each breath.
  5. 05Repeat with the elbow set higher and then lower to cover the different fibre directions, then change sides.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Turn the chest away, do not push the shoulder forward.
  2. 02Ribs stay down as you rotate.
  3. 03Stretch should be broad across the chest, not sharp at the front of the shoulder.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Setting the elbow too high — the shoulder gets jammed into the top of its range and the chest never loads.
  2. 02Leaning the whole body forward instead of rotating — the position moves but the pec length does not change.
  3. 03Pushing to a sharp end point — a broad, tolerable stretch is what holds the position long enough to matter.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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