To better target the muscle group, you can perform more specific bodybuilding exercises such as straight-arm exercises on an incline bench. This upper trap compensation is normal to see especially in weightlifters and CrossFitters who perform the Olympic lifts. Do two exercises for each serratus anterior workout, with each exercise to include three sets of 12 repetitions -- use a heavy enough weight that will allow no more than that number of reps. Do your serratus anterior workout after your chest or shoulder training session. He holds an American College of Sports Medicine CPT, and a National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association CMMACC. To better feel the serratus anterior working and to develop a better mind-muscle connection with the muscle group, do a few sets of higher repetitions, in the 25 to 30 rep range, during initial workouts. If you would like to use their app at a discounted price, check out this link: https://store.3d4medical.com/application/user-kind?id=1&promo=uRSj7I7YOr, […] University. Its main part lies deep under the scapula and the pectoral muscles. The traditional wall slide exercise has two small limitations. By consistently doing these movements using added resistance, you will stimulate the serratus anterior to grow.

Also, actively pulling your arm back down against the friction of the wall can reinforce an overactive pec (especially the pec minor).

Keep your arms straight throughout the exercise. The serratus anterior is worked during many bodybuilding exercises such as pullovers and push-ups. Keep your elbows extended during the movement. No pain, but it left me a bit worried.

Make sure to keep your core slightly braced during this motion as it is common for many to let their low back arch excessively as their arms slide up the wall. I like this exercise as a first or second assistance exercise on a lower body day, or as part of a full body day. Therefore, strengthening this particular muscle at this height will have limited carry over for athletes who need help when their arms are overhead. The flat dumbbell pullover is an exercise that targets the serratus anterior, pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi, along with several other muscles. As this gets easier to perform, tuck your thumbs into your palm and then try to reach your fist all the way to the ground. This movement is a variation of the previous exercise that allows you to focus on one side at a time. Recommended sets/reps: 2-3 sets of 10 reps.

To allow the muscle group to adequately recover, do not perform direct exercises for the serratus anterior more than twice weekly. Squat shoes definitely help, but they aren’t necessary. The end goal with this exercise is to reach the floor behind you with an open hand (palm to the sky) and lay your entire arm flat to the ground without your low back arching and ribs flaring out as compensation. Position the dumbbell over your chest with your arms almost fully straight, keeping a slight bend in your elbows. Serratus anterior works like an “anti-lat,” so this setup keeps athletes honest: they can’t cheat the concentric by moving through lumbar (low back) extension instead of hip extension. What Part of the Deltoid Does the Arnold Press Work On? A plate under the heel is just poorly emulating wearing a squat shoe, and in my experience is just awkward. The serratus anterior mainly functions to abduct the scapula and rotate it in the upward direction. You can see the serratus anterior under the outer sides of the pectoralis major of the chest.

Alternate the exercises you do from workout-to-workout. I cannot tell you what a huge and positive change your blog post has made in my life.

By strengthening your serratus anterior in the ways shown today, you may start to notice improved stability and/or less shoulder pain with overhead lifts. This resistance band does not need to be super strong (a light band works just great). Keep them extended throughout the range of motion. Hardwick DH, Beebe JA, McDonnell MK, & Lang CE. Once you master the floor scapular raises with your palms up, you can move onto the floor angels. Doing those movements using resistance allows you to strengthen the muscle. Move your feet back until your body is forming about a 45-degree angle with the ground. All rights reserved. Big thanks to 3d4Medical and their app Complete Anatomy for the visual of the body today. It used to radiate from my shoulder down to my wrist while laying on my back if I rested my head in my palms (like how you position your arms during situps behind your head). This exercise isolates the serratus anterior muscles. This exercise will improve the protraction of the shoulder blades which will enable you … To about 5 times a day!!!!!! Serratus Anterior Exercises with Weights. It’s common to see people compensate for a lack of upward rotation of the shoulder blades by shrugging their shoulders (recruiting too much upper trap) in an attempt to elevate their arms further overhead. The first is that you can only raise your arms so high above your head before your forearms pop off the wall. Sit on a bench that is inclined at 45 degrees with a dumbbell in each hand. The serratus anterior has several functions, two of which are scapular abduction, a movement in which you bring your scapula forward, and scapular upward rotation. Position your back up against the upright part of the bench and position the dumbbells by the sides of your shoulders with your arms bent. As you lift your arms above your head, try to keep your shoulder blades pinned to the ground. Incline Barbell Straight-Arm Raise . Surface electromyographic analysis of exercises for the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles.

With your elbows straight, raise your arms over your head as far as you can with a slight angle away from your body (about 30 degrees). Place your feet on the ground with your legs extended. To perform the exercise, first set the bench to a forty-five-degree angle. Serratus anterior muscle activity during selected rehabilitation exercises. — Serratus anterior plane block can be performed upright, supine, or lateral recumbent –Anesthetic can be injected above or below the serratus anterior muscle –Serratus anterior plane block can be used in isolation or as an adjunct to systemic pain medication . He is a certified trainer and mixed martial arts coach who wrote "The Human Statue Workout. You are then going to slide your arms above your head (as if you’re performing an overhead press exercise) without your arms popping off the ground. Or your thoughts on having a small plate under heel? © 2019 www.azcentral.com. By creating external rotation torque (an action performed by the posterior rotator cuff muscles) while you slide your arms up the wall, you allow yourself to hone in and focus on the serratus anterior in the most optimal manner. The serratus anterior muscle spans the upper eight or nine ribs and helps you rotate your shoulder blade and move it forward and up.

While this exercise may strengthen the serratus anterior, the pressing action also has a tendency to reinforce overactive pec muscles.4. Perform this exercise at first with the goal to reach your thumbs all the way to the floor above your head. Traditionally, rehab specialists have prescribed exercises like the press up (or punch) and the push up plus to help improve the strength of the serratus anterior.4 However, I have found there to be two disadvantages to using these exercises. I suspect I injured it while climbing. Adduct the right side of your scapula to move the right dumbbell downward to the beginning position, and then repeat the movement with the left side. How to get a Swimmer's Body Without Swimming, How to Do Reverse Flyes Without Gym Equipment, Scapular Retraction Exercises for Posture. The ability to maintain your posture while performing these raises is of the upmost importance, so start with light weight before moving up.

Keep the dumbbells apart and position them in line with your shoulders. Choueiri studied exercise science and nutritional science at Rutgers University. Bring your scapula backward to move the barbell down to the starting position.

Squat Question : The muscle is named from Latin: serrare = to saw, referring to the shape, anterior = on the front side of the body. Am J Sports Med. References: 1.

Recommended sets/reps: 2-3 sets of 10-20 reps. Protraction. In serratus anterior palsy, winging worsens if the patient attempts to raise the arm against resistance from an angle of approximately 45 degrees. He began writing professionally in 2007 and his work has been featured in Bodybuilding.com and "Physique Magazine." Not only does this muscle have a cool name, but it is also needed for a plethora of arm movements; weather open chain (punching/grabbing something out of the cabinet) or closed chain (pushups, planks, downward dogs, or handstands). The serratus anterior, also called the serratus magnus, is a muscle group made up of two parts: upper digitations and lower digitations. Bend your arms to move your torso towards the wall. In order to raise your arms completely overhead your shoulder blades will need to upwardly rotate and tip posteriorly appropriately.

Just get squat shoes if you want your heels lifted. Bring the dumbbells upward by extending your elbows until the dumbbells are overhead. Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights. Position the barbell over your upper chest with your elbows extended. The serratus anterior muscle is a fan-shaped muscle at the lateral wall of the thorax. The serratus anterior is the main muscle required to perform the raise, hence it is very effective. Sit on an incline bench angled at 45 to 60 degrees. It comprises two parts: superior digitations and inferior digitations. Make sure to focus on the serratus anterior throughout the range of motion by establishing a mind-muscle connection from the onset of the set. Start by placing your hands on a wall.

Front Plate Raise You can see the serratus anterior under the outer sides of the pectoralis major of the chest. Bring the dumbbells downward to the starting point by moving your scapula backward. Grasp the barbell using an overhand grip slightly wider than the width of your shoulders. Again, brace your core slightly and tighten your glutes as you lean forward and slide your arms up the wall. Move the barbell down to the beginning position by lowering your shoulders. Put your hands a little more than shoulder-width apart in distance and start with your arms straight. Oh my God! ", Target the Different Parts of the Chest with These 5 Exercises, Growth-Stimulating Exercises for Your Calves, Strengthen Your Rotator Cuff Using Cables, Top Bodybuilding Bodyweight Exercises for Muscle Building, Gluteus Maximus Exercises Using a Machine, Deltoid Destruction: How to Build Bigger Delts, Work Your Shoulders With Bent-Over Lateral Raises, Bodybuilding Training - Bodybuilding Pre-Contest Training Routine, 9 Advanced Bodybuilding Training Techniques to Break Plateaus, Bodybuilding Training Principles For Creating Quadriceps Routines, The Best Bodybuilding Exercises: Brachialis Curls, How to Fix Uneven Muscle Growth in Bodybuilding.