7 Best Lat Stretches: Pre & Post-Workout Flexibility Boost

This standing lat stretch uses a fixed bar or surface to stretch one lat muscle at a time.

To do this stretch:

• Stand next to a fixed bar or surface that is waist-high.
• Grip the bar with one hand slightly wider than the shoulder distance apart.
• Step back with the foot opposite the hand you hold the bar with, creating a slight diagonal angle in your body.
• Keep your arm straight and your shoulder blades pulled down and back.
• Slowly and gently lean your body away from the bar, allowing your lat muscle to stretch.
• Hold the stretch for a minimum of 15–30 seconds.
• Slowly release the tension in your lat muscle and return to the starting position.
• Switch sides and repeat the stretch with the other arm.

3. Bent Arm Wall Stretch

You’ll use a wall for one of the best lat stretches before a workout that is effective for your chest and shoulders.

To do this stretch:

• Stand facing a wall with your feet hip-distance apart.
• Place your palms on the wall with your fingers pointing up and at shoulder height.
• Step forward with one foot.
• Bend your elbows and lower your chest.
• Keep your shoulders down and your back straight.
• Hold the stretch for a minimum of 15–30 seconds.

If you want to improve overall flexibility, this is one of the best lat stretches to lengthen and stretch the muscle.

To do this stretch:

• Place a bench or sturdy surface (like a bench) in front of you.
• Kneel with your knees hip-width apart, facing the bench.
• Place your hands on the bench, shoulder-distance apart, with your fingers facing forward.
• Slowly walk your hands forward, lowering your chest toward the ground.
• Keep your arms straight and your shoulders down and back.
• Lower your chest toward the ground, feeling a stretch in your lats and shoulders.
• Hold the stretch for 15–30 seconds or longer if it feels comfortable.
• Rest for a few seconds and repeat the stretch.

5. Bent Over Lat Stretch

Like many other lat stretches, this exercise also works your upper back and shoulders.

To do this stretch:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-distance apart and bend forward at the hips.
• Keep your back straight.
• Let your arms hang toward the floor with your palms facing inward.
• Reach your arms behind you, keeping them straight.
• Interlace your fingers behind your back. You can hold a towel or resistance band to bridge the gap if you can’t reach your hands.
• Pull your arms away from your body and lift them toward the ceiling.
• Keep your shoulders down and your back straight.
• Hold the stretch for 30 seconds or longer if comfortable.

The static standing stretch also works the obliques, intercostal muscles, hip abductors, and glute medius.

To do this stretch:

• Stand with your knees slightly bent and your feet shoulder-distance apart.
• Place one hand on your hip and the other behind your head.
• At this point, your elbow will be lateral to your head.
• Keep your hand on your head and slowly raise your arm until your elbow points upward.
• You should feel the stretch down the side of your torso.
• Hold the stretch for 30 seconds or longer if it’s comfortable.
• Slowly return to the starting position to release the stretch.
• Repeat on the opposite side.

7. Lying Whole Body Lat Stretch

This stretch is an excellent way to relieve upper-body stress when your lats feel tight.

To do this stretch:

• Lie down on your back on a yoga mat or padded surface.
• Raise your arms toward the ceiling.
• Keep your arms straight and your palms facing each other.
• Slowly lower your arms down toward the floor, keeping them straight.
• When you feel a stretch in your lats and upper back, hold for 30 seconds or longer if the stretching still feels comfortable.
• Release the stretch by slowly bringing your arms back up toward the ceiling.
• Repeat 2-3 times.

“Dynamic stretching is typically done before you start your workout, and involves active movements (...) static stretching, on the other hand, is done at the end of your workout, and involves stretches that you hold in place for a period of time, without movement.”

- Emily Cronkleton, Certified Yoga Instructor

Not only will this exercise increase shoulder mobility and release tight lats, but the entire musculature of the upper back and neck will also loosen.

To do this stretch:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Allow your arms to hang at your sides.
• Roll your shoulders forward, up, back, and down in a circular motion.
• Repeat for 10-15 rolls in each direction.

3. Cat-cow Stretch

This deep stretch increases the flexibility of your neck, shoulders, and spine.

To do this stretch:

• Begin on your hands and knees. Align your wrists with your shoulders and your knees with your hips.
• Inhale as you arch your back and lift your head and tailbone toward the ceiling to make the cow pose.
• Then exhale and round your spine, tucking your chin toward your chest and bringing your tailbone toward your knees, making the cat pose.
• Repeat for 5–10 rounds.

Also Read: How To Perform The Cat Stretch Exercise

Foam rolling is an effective way to relieve tension in the lats. I especially do it before heavy lifts that use my lats.

These are the steps: 

• Sit on the floor with both legs bent in front of you and a foam roller behind you.
• Lean back on one side, pushing against the foam roller with your upper back.
• Brace yourself with the same side arm.
• Reach across your body with the opposite arm and rest it on your shoulder.
• Slowly roll, starting at the top of your back and ending at your lower back.
• Slowly and gently roll back and forth.