title: A randomized controlled comparison of stretching procedures for posterior shoulder tightness.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial,
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare changes in shoulder internal rotation range of motion (ROM), for 2 stretching exercises, the "cross-body stretch" and the "sleeper stretch," in individuals with posterior shoulder tightness.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Recently, some authors have expressed the belief that the sleeper stretch is better than the cross-body stretch to address glenohumeral posterior tightness because the scapula is stabilized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four asymptomatic subjects (20 males, 34 females) participated in the study. The control group (n=24) consisted of subjects with a between-shoulder difference in internal rotation ROM of less than 10 degrees, whereas those subjects with more than a 10 degrees difference were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 intervention groups, the sleeper stretch group (n=15) or the cross-body stretch group (n=15). Shoulder internal rotation ROM, with the arm abducted to 90 degrees and scapula motion prevented, was measured before and after a 4-week intervention period. Subjects in the control group were asked not to engage in any new stretching activities, while subjects in the 2 stretching groups were asked to perform stretching exercises on the more limited side only, once daily for 5 repetitions, holding each stretch for 30 seconds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The improvements in internal rotation ROM for the subjects in the cross-body stretch group (mean +/- SD, 20.0 degrees +/- 12.9 degrees) were significantly greater than for the subjects in the control group (5.9 degrees +/- 9.4 degrees, P = .009). The gains in the sleeper stretch group (12.4 degrees +/- 10.4 degrees) were not significant compared to those of the control group (P = .586) and those of the cross-body stretch group (P = .148).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cross-body stretch in individuals with limited shoulder internal rotation ROM appears to be more effective than no stretching in controls without internal rotation asymmetry to improve shoulder internal rotation ROM. While the improvement in internal rotation from the cross-body stretch was greater than for the sleeper stretch and of a magnitude that could be clinically significant, the small sample size likely precluded statistical significance between groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA 19038, USA. mcclure@arcadia.edu
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balaicuis
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heiland
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Broersma
authors.forename: Cheryl K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Thorndike
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*