Exercise(s) of the Week: Serratus Wall Slides

Written on August 12, 2014 at 8:27 am, by Eric Cressey

Serratus anterior is a really important muscle - and it works hand-in-hand with proper function of your thoracic spine (upper back). Check out these two drills we utilize to get it doing its job:

For more shoulder-friendly training drills like this, check out our new resource, Functional Stability Training of the Upper Body.

4 Responses to “Exercise(s) of the Week: Serratus Wall Slides”

1. Mark Shires Says:
   August 12th, 2014 at 9:37 am

   Great info as always. Never thought of engaging the serratus that way with that exercise. Cuff weights at the biceps and loops at the elbow (iso ER) are variations I use.
   Mark

2. Tim Enfield Says:
   August 12th, 2014 at 6:54 pm

   Eric,

   Great video. Is a flared elbow position as the athlete raises his/ arms a compensation from the subscap for lack of serratus strength? And, in that regard, would a mini band wall crawl be a suitable alternative, cueing protraction?

3. Deb Kaplan Says:
   August 13th, 2014 at 6:28 am

   HI Eric!
   Would this help with scapula winging and stabilizing my humerous in the shoulder joint? I had supra tear repair 2 years ago this May. AndI still wing, and have rounded shoulders. I still cant get those scap to lie flat and glide how they should.

   Many thanks for your videos!!

   Debby

4. Eric Cressey Says:
   August 16th, 2014 at 5:44 am

   Tim,

   I don’t think that’s what it is. More just a matter of positioning; I kept him a bit wider at the start. Otherwise, they tend to dive the hands together (horizontal abduction instead of actual protraction).