Proper Stretching Can Equal Healthy Pecs

If you have been to the gym or talked with a body builder, you are probably aware that Pecs are all the rage. For the leading men of Hollywood, who are planning to take their shirts off on screen developing this area of the body is a must. The pectoralis major muscles, also called Pecs, are at the front of the rib cage and their main role is to move the humerus across the chest.

They originate at the breastbone in the center of the chest and attach to the humerus, a long bone in the arm that runs from shoulder to elbow. The fibers of the muscle are fan-like across the chest. This design allows the humerus the flexibility to move at different planes across the body.

The pectoralis minor muscle is positioned underneath the pectoralis major. It originates at the middle ribs and attaches to the scapula. This muscle’s main role is to move the shoulders forward. This movement is displayed when one makes a shrugging motion.

Some common exercises used in the gym to work the pectoralis muscles are the flat barbell bench press, pushups, incline barbell bench press, dips, and flat dumbbell bench press.

Here is another exercise for the pectoralis muscles. This is designed to stretch the muscles rather than to build mass.

Exercise: Standing in front of a mirror, hold a four foot bar or stick with approximately the circumference of an average broomstick. Hold it in front of your body and then raise it over your head and take it as far back as you can go without bending the elbows.

Hold the position for twenty second before relaxing and resting fifteen seconds. Then repeat the exercise twice more.

Yes, this exercise is simple, but it is also effective in keeping the muscles lose and preventing injury.