Rounded Shoulders

[dilligaf]

Hi Coach

Is there an effective way to stretch your shoulders in such away to gain more flexibility across the back of shoulders?

My shoulders are quite rounded and stop me from getting my elbows back when doing squats, to the point my wrist are bent over in order to hold onto the bar. This also has me holding the bar up high across the traps.

It puts a huge amount of stress on my wrist's. Do you have any pointers or tips that can help correct this maybe? Dont know if it can be corrected or do I just grin and bare it. Just dont want to waste my time on exercises that will not help when I could be doing some that are proven to help.

Have tried stretching my shoulders back by press my hands at shoulder level in a corner of a room, have tried holding a broom stick, while in front of me and then swinging the broom stick over head and behind me with elbows locked while moving hand space in (but only when/if flexibility increases).

Appreciate your time and any tips you may have with this.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Depends on your age and the reason for the lack of flexibility. If your an old guy, there may be bony changes in your shoulder and upper back that cannot be "fixed". If you're younger and the limiting factor is soft tissue, then it can be helped by a massage therapist and through your continued stretching.