Doorway Chest Stretch

Opens the chest to counter a rounded, forward posture.

Doorway Chest Stretch exercise illustration

What it helps

Tight chest muscles round the shoulders and push the head forward, loading the neck. Opening them up helps you sit and stand tall, taking strain off the neck.

How to do it

  1. Stand in a doorway with your forearms resting on the frame, elbows about shoulder height.
  2. Step one foot through and let your chest ease gently forward until you feel a comfortable stretch across the front of the chest and shoulders.
  3. Hold, breathing easily, then step back.

Tips

  • Keep it comfortable — you should feel a stretch, not a strain.
  • Stand tall; don't let the low back arch to chase the stretch.

Commonly done as 2–3 times sets of Hold 20–30 seconds, daily.

Where this appears in recovery

Doorway Chest Stretch is part of 5 recovery programs, typically in the phase 2 stage. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:

All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education

These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.