Understanding Shoulder Flexibility Test and Some Pointers on Enhancing Shoulder Flexibility

Have you ever seen people who can do various movements by using their shoulders? This only means one thing, and that is their shoulders are flexible enough. Does this statement ring the bell? If you want to know how flexible your shoulders are, then you should consider undergoing the shoulder flexibility test.

This particular test is done in order to measure the mobility and flexibility of the joints of the shoulders. It is crucial for the shoulders to have pertinent range of motion, in order to avoid injuries, and to ensure the efficiency of athletic performance. If you love doing sports that requires great amount of shoulder mobility, such as tennis, swimming, racquetball, lacrosse, or sports that require catching and throwing, then there’s a need for you to under this flexibility test.

Due to the tightness that the upper back experiences, shoulders, as well as the neck typically suffer from stiffness and pain. The flexibility test for the shoulders may be used to ascertain an individual’s risk to suffer from injury and pain. For several years, physiologists, as well as physical therapists utilize shoulder flexibility test to determine the baseline flexibility, especially before a rehab or exercise scheme starts.

This test is repetitively done after numerous weeks, in order to ascertain the progress of the person. When it comes to athletes, tennis players and swimmers undergo this test, for the purpose of enhancing their flexibility, to do well during play.

How Shoulder Flexibility Test is being done:

• In order to test the flexibility of the left shoulder, simply stand up and then raise the right arm, straightly over the head.
• Bow your right elbow, and then let your right palm to rest at the back of your neck. After which, slide it down to the back, particularly between the shoulder blades.
• Reach it behind using your left hand. The back of your hand should rest on the center of your back.
• Slide the right hand down; left hand up, in order to touch each and every finger.
• The minimum distance between the right and left hands’ fingertips must be measured. If there are any overlaps, make sure to document it.
• Do the test to the opposite shoulder.  
• Test results of Shoulder Flexibility Test
• Excellent- This means the fingers overlap
• Good- This implies success in reaching the fingers
• Average- This means the fingers are 2 inches short apart
• Poor- The fingers are beyond 2 inches apart

Ways to Enhance the Flexibility of the Shoulders

There are myriad of shoulder stretching exercises that can be done, in order to enhance the shoulder flexibility. Even the simplest ones can make a huge difference. Below are some exercises that could stretch every muscle in the shoulder:

Deltoid Stretches

•    Doorway Front Deltoid Stretch
•    Reach Across the Chest
     Trapezius Muscle Stretches
•    Ear-to-Shoulder Stretch
•    Forward Reach
     Range of Motion Exercises and Flexibility Exercises
•    Shoulder Shrug and Release
•    Shoulder Circles
•    Pendulum Exercise

Search how these exercises are done and start enhancing the flexibility of your shoulders. Consider also taking the shoulder flexibility test.