Upper Back Strengthening

Strengthens the mid- and upper-back muscles that hold you upright.

Upper Back Strengthening exercise illustration

What it helps

Strengthens the mid- and upper-back muscles that hold you upright and support a strong, comfortable posture.

How to do it

  1. Perform rows, reverse flys, and scapular squeezes with a band or light weights.
  2. Squeeze the shoulder blades together on each rep.
  3. Control the return.

Tips

  • Avoid shrugging or straining the neck.
  • Keep your posture tall throughout.

Commonly done as 2 sets of 12–15, 3 times a week.

Where this appears in recovery

Upper Back Strengthening is part of 31 recovery programs, most often at the strength & function (weeks 6–12), long-term recovery (months 6–12) and advanced recovery (months 3–6) stages, among others. 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.