Chest and shoulders - Stretch Of The Month - stretching exercises - Brief Article

Men's Fitness, July, 2002 by Mike Carlson, Allan Donnelly, Ben Kallen, Bobby Lee, Mark Thorpe, Tom Weede

The bench press is about man-against-gravity brute force: You try to push the weight up; physics forces the bar right back at you. Stretching wouldn't seem to have a place in such a formula.

Think again. Flexibility in your chest and shoulders will help you get the most out of your efforts by allowing you to work within a wider range of motion and handle the weight with less injury risk. Stretch before and after lifting as well as between sets.

THE STRETCH

* Stand straight with your legs set shoulder-width apart and your knees bent slightly.

* Place your hands on your buttocks and slowly move your shoulders backward so that you feel as if your chest is opening.

* Hold the position for about 20 seconds, then repeat two times.