Exercise guide · Beginner · Stretch

Exercise Ball Lat Stretch: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The exercise ball lat stretch is a flexibility movement that targets the latissimus dorsi muscles. It involves sitting on a stability ball and leaning to the side while holding a dumbbell overhead, providing a deep stretch to the lats and engaging the shoulders and triceps as secondary muscles.

Primary muscles
Lats
Secondary muscles
Triceps , Shoulders
Equipment
Stability Ball
Level · type
Beginner · Stretch
Demonstration of the exercise ball lat stretch
Front view: muscles worked by the exercise ball lat stretch. Primary: lats. Secondary: triceps and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the exercise ball lat stretch. Primary: lats. Secondary: triceps and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the exercise ball lat stretch

  1. Step 1: Sit on a stability ball with your feet flat on the ground and your back straight.
  2. Step 2: Hold a dumbbell in one hand and extend your arm straight up overhead.
  3. Step 3: Slowly lean to the opposite side, feeling a stretch in your lat muscle.
  4. Step 4: Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds, then return to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat on the other side.

Exercise Ball Lat Stretch alternatives

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Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.