Crosscuts: The Diagonal Woodchop Glide for Lats and Obliques

Crosscuts is one of the 16 guided movements in the ShoulderBack Pro video lessons. You hold the trainer by its two handles and glide one arm diagonally across your body while the other arm guides and resists.

The movement targets three groups. The lats (latissimus dorsi) are the large muscles of the mid and lower back. The external obliques are the side abdominal muscles. The scapular retractors draw your shoulder blades together and back.

• Exercise that adds resistance and progresses over time probably helps shoulder pain and function. Unloaded movement alone probably does not [R01].
• A 2025 review found that scapular stabilisation exercise improved pain and function in people with rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain [R03]. Crosscuts asks your shoulder blade to stay controlled while your arm moves, which resembles that work. That is a resemblance, not proof.
• Resistance training supports strength, mobility and independence in older adults [R06].

1. Sit tall in an armchair, feet flat. Hold the trainer with one hand high on the opposite side of your body, near the shoulder.
2. Let that arm lead a slow glide diagonally down toward the opposite hip. The other arm follows with light, steady resistance.
3. Keep your ribs down and your chest tall. Let your torso turn only a little.
4. Return slowly to the start, then switch sides.

If you feel a catch, a pinch or neck pain, reduce the range and slow down. Stand only when your balance feels steady.