Tip How to Improve Upper Back Mobility Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Tip How to Improve Upper Back Mobility Boost thoracic mobility improve your squat and overhead press and keep your shoulders healthy Here' s the warm-up you need by Tom Morrison December 27, 2017April 5, 2021 Tags It Hurts Fix It, Mobility, Shoulders, Tips, Training If you want healthy shoulders, your thoracic spine must have a good level of movement. Many people think their shoulders are tight so they go on a crusade of shoulder stretches to increase their mobility. But that's ultimately creating another list of problems, including instability and weakness. If you struggle with getting a good overhead position in certain lifts, or can't achieve optimal bar placement for back squats, then your thoracic spine could be the issue. Improving your thoracic rotation is a great way to increase your thoracic extension. Adding this drill to all of your warm-ups is a great way to consistently work on your upper back mobility. Frog Thoracic Rotations Here's how to do it: From an all-fours position, go wide with your legs so that your point of contact with the floor is the inside of your knees. Move your hips back and lock them into place. They shouldn't move from this position during the drill. Bring both elbows down to the floor and brace your abs as if you were performing a plank. Lift one arm up until it's at a right angle with your thumb pointed backwards. Keep your shoulder blade pinned down flat. Squeeze your fist as hard as you can and maintain tension throughout your shoulder. Start to rotate through your upper back. You should feel your ribcage being opened up and like you're "pulling" with your back muscles. Go as far as you can and pause for a few seconds as you take a deep breath in, then exhale and return to the start position. Repeat for 3 sets of 5 reps each side, slow and controlled. Make sure to use an exercise you're struggling with as a test, like the back squat, overhead squat, or overhead press. Do the exercise a few times, complete a full set of frog thoracic rotations, and then retry your test exercise. You'll notice a difference! Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training Tip Attack the Bar Violently Build strength and set new personal records using compensatory acceleration training. Here's how. Powerlifting & Strength, Tips, Training Paul Carter November 10 Training Tip When To Change Everything No motivation? Progress stalled in the gym? Here's how changing everything about your training can get you back on track. Tips, Training Eirik Sandvik January 6 Training Tip A Better Way to Do Leg Raises Ramp up this basic core exercise like this. And try not to pass out. Training Gareth Sapstead November 30 Training Strong Fast and Brutal Learn good techniques in the four big lifts, then just let go and get aggressive. Powerlifting & Strength, Training Jim Wendler June 10