Pro player Tyler Loong’s secret to a healthy back and shoulders is neither complicated nor expensive. He simply hangs from a bar and lets gravity do the rest.
We asked Loong to tell us more. He replied: “I do that often, almost daily. I do it for shoulders and especially back. I do the dead hang, but also use some movement with it as well. It’s been one of the best things for my body.”
Research conducted by former orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Kirsch of the Kirsch Institute suggests that dead hangs can be extremely effective in stopping shoulder pain. According to osteopath Guy Ashburner, “The idea is that when the arm is fully overhead (in flexion), the upper arm bone (humerus) will press against the acromion (tip of the shoulder blade) and eventually reshape it. Hanging also stretches and strengthens the supraspinatus tendon.”
On Youtube, a number of physical therapists and fitness enthusiasts recommend dead hangs for shoulder and spine health:
