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General Mobility Exercises

The following is a selection of general mobility exercises. They are not in any specific order.

Shoulder Circles

Stand tall with good posture. Raise your right shoulder towards your right ear, and take it backwards, down and then up again with a smooth rhythm. Perform this shoulder circling movement eight times and then repeat with the other shoulder. Breathe comfortably throughout

 Shoulder Circles
   

Arm Circles

Stand tall with good posture. Lift one arm forward, then take it backwards in a continuous circling motion, keeping your spine long throughout. Perform this arm circling movement eight times before repeating it with the other arm. Avoid the tendency to arch your spine while carrying out the circling action. Breathe comfortably throughout.

 Arm Circles
   

Side Bends

Stand tall with good posture, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hands resting on hips. Lift your trunk up and away from your hips and bend smoothly first to one side, then the other, avoiding the tendency to lean either forwards or backwards. Repeat the whole sequence sixteen times with a slow rhythm, breathing out as you bend to the side and breathing in as you return to the centre.

 Side Bends
   

Trunk Twists

Stand tall with good posture. Have your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands resting on hips. Keeping your spine long and your hips facing forward, turn smoothly and slowly round to one side, then the other. Repeat the sequence sixteen times, breathing comfortably throughout the movement.

 Trunk Twists
   

Half Squat

Stand tall with good posture holding your hands out in front of you for balance. Now bend at the knees until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Keep your back long throughout the movement, and look straight ahead. Ensure that your knees always point in the same direction as your toes. Once at your lowest point, fully straighten your legs to return to your starting position. Repeat the exercise sixteen times with a smooth, controlled rhythm. Breathe in as you descend and out as you rise.

 Half Squat
   

Standing Calf Stretch

Stand tall with one leg in front of the other, hands flat and at shoulder height against a wall or suitable immovable object. Ease your back leg further away from the wall, keeping it straight and press the heel firmly into the floor. Keep your hips facing the wall. You will feel the stretch in the calf of the rear leg. Repeat on the other side. Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise. Perform 3 to 6 stretches and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Standing Calf Stretch
   

Lower Calf Stretch

Position yourself for the standing calf stretch exercise. Perform 3 to 6 stretches and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds. This time, however, flex the knee of the rear leg while keeping the heel pressed firmly onto the floor. The sensation of stretch should now be experienced lower down in the calf. Repeat on the other side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

 Lower Calf Stretch
   

Seated Hamstring and Groin Stretch

Sit tall with both legs fully outstretched. Flex your right knee, so the right foot rests comfortably along your left inner thigh, with the right knee as close as possible to the floor. Keeping your spine long and your shoulders away from your ears, hinge forward from the hips to reach towards your flexed left foot. Go as far forward as possible, then relax your spine to get even further ahead, holding this stretch position. You will feel the stretch along the back of the outstretched leg and the inside of the flexed leg. Perform 3 to 6 times and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat with the other leg, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

 Seated Hamstring Stretch
   

Lying Hamstring Stretch

Lie flat on the floor with your knees flexed to approximately ninety degrees .Raise your left leg, grasping it loosely behind the thigh with both hands. Now ease this leg as close to your chest as possible. You will feel the stretch along the back of the flexed thigh. Repeat with the other leg. Breathe comfortably throughout. Perform 3 to 6 times and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Lying Hamstring stretch
   

Lying Quadriceps Stretch

Lie face down on the floor, resting your forehead on your right hand. Press your hips firmly to the floor and bring your left foot up towards your buttocks, easing it closer to them with your right hand. You will feel the stretch along the front of the thigh. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

 Lying Quadriceps Stretch
   

Standing Hip and Thigh Stretch

Stand tall with good posture in front of a firm chair or stool. Raise one foot onto the chair's back, easing your body towards this foot so that the chest and thigh come closer together. Rest your hands loosely on the raised knee and keep your spine and back leg straight and your shoulders away from your ears. Ease as far forward as possible and hold your position. You will feel the stretch along the front of the thigh of the extended leg, and the back of the thigh of the raised leg. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each time for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

 Standing hip and thigh stretch
   

Seated Groin Stretch

Sit tall with good posture. Ease your legs up towards your body and place the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to ease down towards the floor. Make sure your back stays long, and your shoulders are down away from your ears. Rest your hands on your lower legs or ankles, or keep them by your sides for support. You will feel the stretch along the inside of your thighs and groin. Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise. If you wish to stretch the hamstrings and hip extensors simultaneously from the position above, ease forward by hinging at the hip, still keeping the spine long. Perform 3 to 6 stretches and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Seated Groin Stretch
   

Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel on a mat or towel with one leg flexed in front of you, as illustrated - your weight should be evenly distributed so that your position is stable, although you can use your hands on either side of your body for extra support. Note that the knee at the front leg is positioned directly over the front foot. Push your hips forward from this position and keep your spine long and shoulders down. You may find that you must take your rear knee further back before you can feel the stretch along the front of this thigh. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each time for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

 Kneeling Hip Flexor stretch
   

Front of Trunk Stretch

Lie down on the floor, fully outstretched. Slide your arms to the sides of your body for support, and ease your chest off the floor, keeping your spine long and your hips firmly pressed into the ground. You will feel the stretch in front of the trunk. Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Front of trunk stretch
   

Seated Trunk Twist

Sit tall with good posture, legs stretched out in front of you, spine long and shoulders down away from your ears. Place your right leg over your left leg, as illustrated and rotate your trunk, using your left arm against your right knee to help ease you further round. Use your right arm on the floor for support. You will feel the stretch along the length of the spine as well as in the muscles around the right hip. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise.

Seated trunk twist
   

Upper Back Stretch

Stand or sit tall with good posture. If standing, bend your knees slightly and tilt your pelvis forward. Interlock your fingers and push your hands as far away from your chest as possible, allowing your upper back to relax while at the same time looking down. You will feel the stretch between your shoulder blades. Breathe comfortably throughout. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each time for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Upper back stretch
   

Chest Stretch

Standing, bend your knees slightly and tilt your pelvis forward. Place your hands, loosely clasped, on the small of your back. Keep your spine long and your shoulders back and away from your ears. Without arching your spine, ease your elbows towards each other as far as possible. You will feel the stretch in the front of the chest. Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each time for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Chest stretch
   

Sideways Neck Stretch

Stand or sit tall with good posture, keeping your spine and neck long and your shoulders away from your ears. Keeping your neck long, tilt your head to the side. Repeat on the other side. Perform 3 to 6 stretches and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Neck stretch
   

Front of Shoulder Stretch

Sit on a stool or stand tall with good posture. If standing - bend your knees slightly and tilt your pelvis forward. Place your hands behind you, interlock your fingers, straighten your arms, and lift them upwards and backwards as far as possible. Keep your spine long throughout, and ensure your shoulders are back and down away from your ears. You will feel the stretch in the front of the chest. Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise. Perform 3 to 6 and hold each time for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Front of shoulder stretch
   

Shoulder and Side Stretch

Sit on a stool or stand tall with good posture, bend your knees slightly and tilt your pelvis forward. Place both hands above your head, your right hand behind your head, and as far down the spine as possible. Use your left hand to ease the right elbow closer to your head - taking the elbow behind the head if possible. Keep your spine long and your shoulders away from your ears throughout the exercise. You will feel the stretch along the side of the trunk and shoulder. Repeat on the opposite side, breathing comfortably throughout the exercise. Perform 3 to 6 stretches and hold each for 5 to 10 seconds.

 Shoulder and side stretch

Certification

If you are a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, Athletics Coach or do any bodywork, then consider certification in Stretching and Flexibility provided by The Stretching Institute.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • MACKENZIE, B. (1997) General Mobility Exercises [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/mobilgen.htm [Accessed