Thoracic Swimmers
Exercise Overview
The thoracic swimmer exercise is used to mobilize the thoracic spine, scapulae and shoulder. This is a seated exercise. Start by meshing your fingers together and line up your forearms into a single straight line. Leading with one elbow at a time, proceed to reach forwards with one elbow while reaching backwards with the other. Allow the torso to rotate in order to optimize the amount of distance covered while reaching with the elbows. Proceed to then reach forwards with the back elbow and backwards with the front elbow. Continue to alternate sides as required. Complete this exercise in a clockwise and counter clockwise fashion.
Muscles Involved
thoracic spinescapulothoracic jointglenohumeral jointserratus anteriorrhomboidspectoralis minortrapezius
Related Conditions
shoulder impingementrotator cuff tendinitisupper cross syndromecostotransverse joint irritation / costrovertebral joint irritationthoracic spine hypomobility