10 Best Side-lying Floor Stretch Alternatives for Home Workouts

The Side-lying Floor Stretch is done lying face down. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Latissimus Dorsi-smr, the Roller Side Lat Stretch and the Back Pec Stretch.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Side-lying Floor Stretch

Side-lying Floor Stretch
Primary muscle
Lats
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Beginner
Type
Isolation
How to perform Side-lying Floor Stretch
  1. First lie on your left side, bending your left knee in front of you to stabilize your torso (use your abdominal muscles as well to hold you upright).
  2. Straighten your right leg and rest the right foot on the floor behind your left. Straighten your right arm over your head and gently pull on your right wrist to stretch the entire right side of the body. Switch sides.
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Ranked Side-lying Floor Stretch Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Side-lying Floor Stretch on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

    • Lats
    • Foam-roll
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the roller with both hands in front of your body.
    2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    3. Extend your arms forward and roll the roller down towards your feet, feeling a stretch in your lats.
    4. Hold the stretch for a few seconds, then slowly roll the roller back up to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    The same equipment, done standing instead.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground.
    3. Cross your arms in front of your body, with your right arm over your left arm.
    4. Interlock your fingers and rotate your palms away from your body.
    5. Slowly raise your arms up and away from your body, feeling a stretch in your back and chest.
    6. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, then release.
    7. Repeat on the opposite side.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Extend your arms straight out to the sides, parallel to the ground.
    3. Slowly lean your upper body to one side, feeling a stretch in your side and lats.
    4. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds.
    5. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down
  1. Spinal Stretch
    • Lats
    • Foam-roll
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit in a chair so your back is straight and your feet planted on the floor.
    2. Interlace your fingers behind your head, elbows out and your chin down.
    3. Twist your upper body to one side about 3 times as far as you can. Then lean forward and twist your torso to reach your elbow to the floor on the inside of your knee.
    4. Return to upright position and then repeat for your other side.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: seated, not lying face down
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    The same equipment, done seated instead.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a chair with your feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands on your thighs or on the sides of the chair for support.
    3. Slowly lean forward from your hips, keeping your back straight.
    4. Feel the stretch in your lower back and hold for 20-30 seconds.
    5. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: seated, not lying face down
  2. Chair Lower Back Stretch
    • Lats
    • Other
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    A straight swap when you want to keep working the lats.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit upright on a chair.
    2. Bend to one side with your arm over your head. You can hold onto the chair with your free hand.
    3. Hold for 10 seconds, and repeat for your other side.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: seated, not lying face down
    • Spine
    • Foam-roll
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by sitting on the ground with your legs extended in front of you.
    2. Place the roller perpendicular to your body, just below your glutes.
    3. Slowly roll your body backwards, allowing the roller to move up your back.
    4. Continue rolling until the roller reaches your upper back.
    5. Pause for a moment, then slowly roll back to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: static stretch, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Primary muscle: spine, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand facing a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Extend one arm straight out in front of you and place your palm against the wall.
    3. Engage your core and lean your body forward, keeping your arm straight and your back flat.
    4. Slowly push against the wall with your palm, activating your lat muscles.
    5. Hold the position for a few seconds, then release and repeat with the other arm.

    Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each side, 3 sets.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down
  3. Dynamic Back Stretch
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
    2. Keeping your arms straight, swing them straight up in front of you 5-10 times, increasing the range of motion each time until your arms are above your head.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Side-lying Floor Stretch
    • Body position: standing, not lying face down

Why You Might Need a Side-lying Floor Stretch Alternative

You might substitute the Side-lying Floor Stretch for pain, limited hip or shoulder mobility, lack of a floor surface, or rehab rules that restrict lying positions. Alternatives let you achieve the same lat lengthening and scapular mobility while reducing compression through the ribcage. Choose movements that put the humerus into flexion or slight horizontal adduction to load the lat gently, for example, reach overhead and pull the shoulder blade down and back to emphasize lat insertion along the humerus. Alternatives also let you manipulate load and range-of-motion to match tissue tolerance and recovery stage.

Side-lying Floor Stretch FAQ

What muscles does Side-lying Floor Stretch work?

The Side-lying Floor Stretch primarily lengthens the latissimus dorsi and affects the thoracolumbar fascia and lower scapular stabilizers. Cue a long reach overhead and a slight thoracic rotation to load the lat fibers and encourage scapular posterior tilt and depression.

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