Purpose: To facilitate soft tissue release of the latissimus dorsi. 

Procedure: With the patient lying in supine, sit on the side of the plinth of the muscles that you are trying to release. Preposition the patient’s shoulder into full flexion.  Using soft tissue massage cream, palpate the belly of the latissimus dorsi muscle while providing distraction to the humeral head. Then, stroke in a parallel direction along the muscle fibers to facilitate release.