Limited Shoulder Flexion

Shoulder - Mobility

Limited shoulder flexion restricts overhead reach and often contributes to compensatory lumbar extension and rib flare.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Tight lats, teres major, pecs, and posterior capsule, with thoracic stiffness and poor scapular upward rotation.

Clinical Rationale

Overhead restriction often leads to lumbar compensation and shoulder irritation. Addressing mobility and scapular control reduces risk.

Practical Solution

Improve thoracic mobility and soft tissue length of lats/pecs before loading overhead patterns.

Common Compensations

• Lumbar extension
• Rib flare
• Scapular winging

Progression

1. Level 1: Mobility and stretching
2. Level 2: Scapular control
3. Level 3: Loaded overhead patterns
4. Level 4: Sport-specific overhead

Regression

• Reduce range
• Use supine drills
• Decrease load

Red Flags

• Severe pain or night pain
• Traumatic injury
• Loss of strength

Differential Diagnosis

• Adhesive capsulitis
• Rotator cuff pathology
• Impingement

Related Patterns

• rounded shoulders
• scapular dyskinesis

Related Exercises

• lat smr
• wall elbow walk band
• tspine foam roll
• ytw series
• wall slide
• shoulder press
• thoracic extension foam roller
• pec minor smr
• overhead squat
• wall angels

Related Assessments

• shoulder press assessment
• overhead squat assessment

Evidence