Shoulder Stretch (Neck and Shoulder Stretches)

One of the major benefits of Stretching is that it increases your flexibility. While Stretching may appear a bit bland as compared with resistance exercises such as Training with Free Weights and Weight Training Exercises, without a good stretch, you will not be able to minimize the risk of injury.

The anterior deltoid is the front part of the deltoids or "delts". The deltoids muscle is the cap of the shoulder and has three parts: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (rear). The anterior deltoid allows you to raise your arms to the front. The lateral deltoid allows you to raise your arms to the side, while the posterior deltoid allows you to rotate your arms to the rear.

Stengthen the muscles in your shoulders by doing the Shoulder Stretch. This section will show you how to do this exercise:

	STEP 1: Stand (with legs slightly bent and feet hip-width apart) or sit.
	STEP 2: Put your right arm across your body so it is near your left shoulder. Extend until you feel the stretch in the back of your shoulder.
	STEP 3: To push the stretch a little further, hold your right arm with your left hand. Hold for about 8-10 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Stress makes your muscles tense up and can cause headache, stiff neck, sore shoulders and a knotted back. Full body stretching will relax your muscles, help you to breathe deeper and release all of the accumulated tension your body takes each day. For a great full, upper, or lower body Stretching Sequence, go to Fitness Exercises: Stretching Sequences.

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