Before beginning the posterior shoulder stretch, warm up the shoulders by performing gentle shoulder rolls or by reaching up and over your head. Warming up prior to completing the stretch helps to avoid injury and strain.c

Begin the posterior shoulder stretch by standing upright, facing straight ahead, with your arms at your sides. Next, cross one arm across the front of your body. Bend the opposite arm up over the arm being stretched, at the elbow. Use that arm to gently pull the arm being stretched toward the opposite shoulder. Hold this position for 20 seconds. Repeat this stretch on the opposite arm, repeating the combination until the series is completed.c c

If you cannot comfortably perform the posterior shoulder stretch with a straightened arm, the stretch can be modified and completed with a bent arm. To do the posterior shoulder stretch using a bent arm, start in the resting position, facing forward with your arms resting at your sides. Cross the arm to be stretched across the front of your body, leaving the arm bent at the elbow. Use the opposite arm to pull the arm being stretched toward the opposite shoulder, bending the arm around the elbow of the arm being stretched. Repeat each step, alternating between sides, until the series is complete.c