The obliques include internal and external layers that wrap around your torso. These muscles power rotation and resist unwanted lateral movement. Tight obliques restrict trunk rotation and lateral flexion. Weak obliques allow excessive spinal movement during activity. This routine addresses both oblique layers through stretching and controlled mobility work. Get your personalized core routine: Start your 14-day free trial Lateral Oblique Stretches Side bending lengthens the obliques along your lateral trunk. JME 151 Either sitting or standing, extend one arm up over your head. Bend toward the other side for a gentle stretch in your side body. Return to the middle and repeat. JME 161 Sitting in your chair, raise one arm above your head and rotate your upper body in the other direction to feel a gentle stretch in your side body. Rotational Oblique Work Rotation stretches obliques while building functional mobility. JME 150 Sitting in your chair, rotate your upper body both left and right. Don't do this too fast - find what works for you. JME 104 Sitting in your chair, rotate your upper body to one side and extend one arm back. Standing Oblique Mobility Standing positions challenge oblique mobility while maintaining stability. JME 153 Standing, rotate your upper body to the left and to the right. Be slow and controlled - find what works for each side. JME 115 Standing, rotate your upper body to each side - keeping your feet in the same position. Seated Oblique Stretches Seated positions allow focused attention on oblique tissue without balance demands. JME 157 Standing or sitting at your desk, raise one arm above your head. Rotate your upper body toward the other side for a gentle stretch and return to the middle. JME 100 Sitting in your chair, bend forward and hold onto one knee with the opposite arm. You will feel a strecth along your side from holding onto your knee. Play around with the position to find what works for you. Combined Oblique Movements Real oblique function combines rotation with lateral flexion. These exercises challenge that pattern. JME 162 Sitting in your chair, reach one hand toward the opposite ankle. With your other arm, rotate toward the ceiling. Find your end range of motion and return to the bottom. JME 160 Sitting in your chair, reach one arm toward the other ankle. Rotate enough to feel a gentle stretch in your side body and then return to the middle. Routine Guidelines Perform this routine 4-5 times weekly. Each exercise gets 10-12 repetitions per side or 30 second holds. The full sequence takes 8-10 minutes. Compare left and right sides. Asymmetries greater than 15% warrant extra attention. Athletes in rotational sports benefit from daily oblique mobility work. Golfers, tennis players, and baseball players particularly need this mobility. Complete Core Health Oblique mobility is one component of core function. Complete trunk health requires rectus abdominis mobility, back extensor balance, and hip integration. simplmobility provides comprehensive core programming. Start Your Free Trial