PILATES MOTION ATLAS

Radial Nerve Glide | Self-stretch in 3D

Radial Nerve Glide: seated (chair), radial nerve pathway (thumb side and back of the arm). Preparation, 4 movement phases, points to check and cautions, with a 3D model you can pause and rotate.

Pilates Motion Atlas editorial teamUpdated September 30, 2026

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A schematic 3D view of Radial Nerve Glide — One moment from the lesson model. Open 3D to follow the whole movement from any angle.

Position and focus

Seated (chair) · Radial nerve pathway (thumb side and back of the arm)

Small, pain-free movements to glide the radial nerve pathway (thumb side and back of the arm).

Starting position

Sit on a chair with the left hand on your thigh. Let the right arm hang beside the body with the palm facing it.

Movement phases

1. Set up

Sit tall and keep the head straight.

2. Small movements

Let the shoulder drop, turn the arm in and take it slightly back, and bend the wrist towards the palm as you tilt the head towards the arm. Bring the arm and head back.

3. Slightly larger range

Take the arm back a little further, as long as the feeling in the arm and the back of the hand does not change.

4. Smaller and stop

Make the movements smaller and stop with the arm hanging.

What to check yourself

Check that the shoulder does not hunch and that the head tilts towards the arm as the wrist bends.

Caution

Stop if you feel sharp pain, numbness, dizziness, shortness of breath or anxiety. If you are receiving treatment, recovering from surgery or pregnant, check with your healthcare professional first. Think of a nerve glide as sliding rather than stretching, and keep the movements small. Stop if you feel numbness, tingling or pain, or if a sensation stays after moving. If you are receiving treatment for numbness or pain, check with your healthcare professional first.

These English notes describe a prototype model. Stretch and foam roller lessons have not yet been reviewed by the supervising instructors. They are not medical advice or an individual exercise prescription.