Every Monday in March, I will be providing a few Mobility exercises for a specific part of the body. Today we will be focusing on Thoracic Spine Mobility.
The Thoracic Spine is your mid-back, made up of 12 vertebral segments. The T-Spine allows you to bend sideways, rotate, and go into flexion and extension. The ribs also articulate with the thoracic vertebrae. The ribs are important with breathing. If there are any limitations in your thoracic spine, these movements can become altered, and in turn could lead to pain, restricted range of motion of your mid back and shoulders, and decreased breathing capacity.
I have provided 3 simple exercises to help promote Thoracic Mobility. You can perform these exercises whether you have restrictions or not. But if you do feel that you are limited, please contact me or your local physical therapist for a formal evaluation.
The first exercise is called The Archer
The second exercise is called Quadruped Thoracic Rotation
The last exercise is called Foam Roller
This can be helpful for people with:
- Upper back pain or mid back pain
- Poor posture
- Difficulty reaching overhead to wash hair or reach a high cabinet
- After breast cancer surgery
- Chest radiation
- Stiffness/soreness after a workout
- Among Others
Contact Dr. Jillian Meyer if you would like to discuss further.