Desk jobs, driving, swimming and carrying boxes all have one thing in common: the use of the arms and chest to perform the task. A large percentage of what we do in life is in front of us, making it common for the muscles in the front of our body to become hypertonic (i.e., shortened) and limiting chest, shoulder and arm flexibility.?
The pectoralis major and minor, anterior deltoid and biceps are all muscles located on the front of the body (in the chest, shoulders and arms, respectively). Tight pectoral muscles contribute to a postural deviation known as forward-rounded shoulders and limit range of motion in the shoulder joint. Opening up the front of the body through a variety of chest stretches can increase flexibility of the chest muscles and connective tissue and allow for greater range of motion in the shoulders to improve upper-body posture and allow for pain-free movement patterns.
