Learn How to Easily Stretch Your Lats if You Have Parkinson’s

Many of my fighters complain about shoulder and lower back pain, but I can clearly see their lats (latissimus dorsi) are tight and are either causing or contributing to the problem.

The latissimus dorsi muscle is a large, triangle-shaped back muscle that helps you do things like pull-ups, pull-downs, swimming, and even breathing. It functions to stabilize your back while extending your shoulders.

What happens when lats are tight?

Lats tightness limits shoulder mobility. Lats usually become tight when there are previous shoulder injuries, or when the rotator cuff muscles are weak and the Lats must compensate for this weakness.

Stretching your lats a few times per week can help you gain flexibility, reduce pain, and increase range of motion. This will help prevent injury and will leave you feeling better overall, allowing you to move with strength and ease.

Watch this video to learn How to Easily Stretch Your Lats if You Have Parkinson’s:

Learn How to Stretch Your Lats:

• Start by standing next to a door jam or sturdy post.
• Take one arm and, with the thumb pointing up, grab overhead on the post.

• On the next exhale, scoop your belly and allow the pelvis to tilt backwards gently.

• Take the leg on the same side and cross it behind your other leg.

• Bend to the opposite side, and look under the arm on top.

• Hold and breathe deeply into the opposite rib area to stretch the lats and release compressed ribs.
• Hold for 30 to 60 seconds if you can, then do the same sequence on the opposite side.

If you’re interested in learning more about workouts and stretching to help tight muscles from Parkinson’s disease, check out my Posture School, now offered both in person and virtually! I instruct this five-week exercise series to address one of the most problematic symptoms of Parkinson’s: stooped posture, which causes falls, pain, and crowds your breathing and digestion. You will learn lifelong exercises that you can do every day to prevent or treat poor posture. If you want to feel stronger, sit and stand straighter, and move better, contact me or click here to purchase the virtual course for just $49!

💜 Coach Kimberly