shoulder flexibility?

[rx123]

I read in some fitness mag this month about proper shoulder flexibility. I've always had bad flexibility in the shoulders and seems i'm not even close to passing this test. The test was as follows:

put one are straight up in the air
bend it at a 90 deg angle so your fingers are touching your upper back
with your other arm, reach behind and try to touch you other fingers
it said you should be within 2 inches from touching them

Is this an accurate test? What stretches increase flexibility?

thanks

 

[rx123]

bump

 

[AustinTX]

I can reach around with my right hand and touch the L fingers easily; reaching around with my left arm I get within a couple of inches, but can't touch. But I know my left side isn't quite as flexible and I tend to have slightly more fat on that side too....

After I wrote the initial reply, I worked at it a little while and could barely make the L touch, but not easily.

 

[endpoint]

Is this an accurate test? What stretches increase flexibility?

thanks

Im gonna say no to it being a "accurate" test.......but two inchs is a long distance. There are a few things that factor in.......usually muscle mass/fat in the traps, shoulders and biceps can cause problems in this test. but as i said 2 inchs is a long distance.
however the test will be a good method of tracking your progress in shoulder flexability.


I like the stretch where grasping a towel in both hands......in exactly the same postion you described for the test and.......trying to pull the towel apart