Rhomboserratus Rock

This is a great technique for stretching and working on the serratus anterior and rhomboid muscles. These muscles both attach on the medial border of the scapula and move the scapula in opposite directions.

I call the technique Rhomboserratus Rock because of Tom Myers, who wrote the book Anatomy Trains. In his book, he refers to the Rhomboserratus muscle. It is not actually the name of a muscle, but he calls it that because both Rhomboids and Serratus Anterior attach to the medial border of the scapula. The Rhomboids attach on the posterior aspect of the medial border and pulls the scapula toward the spine (retraction). Serratus Anterior attaches on the anterior aspect of the medial border and pulls the scapula away from the spine (protraction). Together Rhomboids and Serratus Anterior help to keep the scapula close to the rib cage.When learning this technique you may wish to practice it as separate movements first. Stand in a lunge position so that you can shift your weight to your front foot when stretching the serratus, then shift your weight to your back foot when stretching the rhomboids. Once you have mastered both parts of this technique try combining them in a rocking motion, and play with the different movements you can do with the scapula.

You can vary this technique depending on your client’s needs. Clients with rounded shoulders will need more stretching of Serratus Anterior and no stretching of the Rhomboids.

You may need to have your client’s arm in a different position while mobilizing the shoulder girdle when working with clients that have adhesive capsulitis or other restrictions in the range of motion at the glenohumeral joint. This technique needs to be pain-free for your client.

You can also work with your client’s breath, having your client inhale when stretching serratus, and exhale when working the rhomboids.

Rhomboids

Serratus Anterior