The anterior (ventral) musculature shortens noticeably in today’s everyday life, while the back muscles are too weak to straighten the spine. Exercises for the thoracic spine are aimed at correcting this muscular imbalance, maintaining the mobility of the vertebral joints and restoring the physiological position of the spine. The exercises should be integrated into everyday life in the long term and should be performed regularly at home to achieve lasting success. It is important to perform the exercises precisely and cleanly in order to avoid possible incorrect loading. The article “Pain in the thoracic spine – physiotherapy” might be of interest to you in this regard
Mobilization Exercises
Mobilization exercises aim to improve the joints of the spine in their entire range of motion. Mobilization exercises are not very stressful and are performed in several sets with a high number of repetitions. 1st exercise The patient assumes a position on all fours.
The hands are placed just below the shoulders, the knees just below the hips. The gaze is directed obliquely forward and downward, so that the cervical spine is loosely stretched. Now a supporting pillar, one arm is lifted off and stretched out far to the front.
The gaze follows the hand, the thorax straightens up, the thoracic spine is stretched. Then the elbow is bent and pulled under the body as far as possible, the chin rests on the chest, the spine curls up and becomes round. The exercise can be combined with breathing.
When breathing in, the arm is stretched forward, when breathing out it is pulled towards the body. The exercise is repeated 20 times on each side in 3-4 sets. 2nd exercise From the lateral position (Emryo position) both arms are stretched over each other in the direction of vision.
With the first inhalation, the upper arm is stretched and moved to the other side. The gaze and upper body follow the arm. From this position, five deep breaths are taken into the distended chest.
The stretched arm is to be guided increasingly to the floor. With the sixth inhalation the arm is returned to the starting position and the side is changed. Further mobilizing exercises can be found in the article Mobilization exercises
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