Herniated disc in BWS | Exercises for the thoracic spine

Herniated disc in BWS

A slipped disc in the thoracic spine is extremely rare. More often it occurs in the lumbar spine or in the cervical spine. A herniated disc can remain asymptomatic, but if it causes problems, it usually manifests itself as radiating pain in specific, defined areas of the extremities and can cause muscle weakness or sensory disturbances.

In the thoracic spine, this is almost never the case, since this spinal segment is well stabilized by the thorax and thus puts less mechanical stress on the intervertebral discs than in the other spinal segments. In the case of a herniated intervertebral disc, the wound healing phases must be considered first, followed by posture training and the correction of muscular imbalances in order to relieve the overloading of the affected area. For more information please read the article:

  • Physiotherapy for a slipped disc in BWS
  • Physiotherapy for nerve root compression in BWS

Summary

Exercises for the thoracic spine are manifold. They usually involve stretching and relaxing the ventral muscles and strengthening the straightening muscles. Theraband exercises are ideal for this purpose.

The mobility of the thoracic spine is also important for a pain-free, healthy back. A large number of mobilization exercises should be performed regularly. For acute pain, light mobilization can be helpful, as can relaxing positioning or warmth.