Therapy/treatment

The therapy or treatment of a vertebral blockage in the thoracic spine varies from patient to patient. It always depends on the position of the blocked vertebra and the effects of the blockage. Depending on the patient’s medical history and age, an appropriate therapy is then initiated.

However, it always makes sense to reposition the blocked vertebra. This can be done by gentle stretching exercises, movement, manual therapy or manipulation.In the latter case, a specialist applies a targeted, rapid movement impulse in the direction of the freely moving side of the vertebra, which then jumps back into the correct position. This is usually accompanied by an acoustically audible crack.

Bringing the vertebra back into the correct position by manipulation is not indicated for all patients, however. For example, inflammatory processes or osteoporosis may be a contraindication. It is then important to keep the vertebra in the desired position over the long term.

For this purpose, a patient-specific training plan is drawn up, which includes various stretching, stabilization and strengthening exercises to help patients strengthen their muscles and tissue so that the vertebra maintains a stable position. Sports that are easy on the spine, such as backstroke swimming or Nordic walking, can help keep the spine in motion. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken for a short period of time to relieve the acute pain caused by a spinal blockage.

Heat or cold treatments and electrotherapy (depending on what is more comfortable for the individual patient) can also provide relief. In many cases, proper therapy is not even necessary in the case of a vertebral blockage, since blockages can also spontaneously resolve themselves again. However, if it occurs more frequently or does not disappear by itself within a few days, you should consult a doctor.

Release blockage yourself

It is possible to release the blockage yourself through targeted stretching exercises or active mobilization exercises in the thoracic spine. Due to the fact that vertebral blockages also release themselves spontaneously through certain movements, a walk can also help. It is important that patients take care of repositioning the blocked vertebra(s) in good time, as otherwise the pain may become chronic and the blockages may be difficult to release due to permanent muscular tension.

Especially during active mobilization, you should ask an experienced physiotherapist to instruct you beforehand, as there is a lot that can be done wrong and thus cause even greater damage. In the following, some exercises are described how vertebral blockades can be released in BWS. Put yourself in the quadruped position.

Now make an extreme cat’s hump, with the head tilted towards the sternum. Then lower your back slowly and stretch your head towards the ceiling. Repeat the exercise 5 times.

Sit on your knees. Make sure that your hips are straight. Now place your hands on your temples with your elbows pointing outward.

Now turn your upper body to the left and then move your right elbow towards the floor (your hand remains on your temples). Slowly return to the starting position and repeat the exercise on the other side. If possible, look for a raised bar or door frame.

Grasp the bar with your hands and lift your legs off the floor. Let yourself swing slowly back and forth so that existing blockages can be released. Lie on your side with 90° in the knee and hip joint (embryo position).

Both arms are stretched out at chest height with palms facing each other. With the first deep, slow inhalation, the upper hand is stretched out to the other side. The gaze follows the palm of the hand, except for the arm and head the body remains in its starting position.

Now breathe in and out 5 times deeply into the expanded lung. When inhaling 6 times, the arm returns to the starting position. Then change sides.

Move to the four-footed stand. Now make an extreme cat hump, with the head tilted towards the sternum. Then lower your back slowly and stretch your head towards the ceiling.
Repeat the exercise 5 times.
Sit on your knees. Make sure that your hips are straight. Now place your hands on your temples with your elbows pointing outward.
Now turn your upper body to the left and then move your right elbow towards the floor (your hand remains on your temples). Slowly return to the starting position and repeat the exercise on the other side.
If possible, look for a raised bar or door frame. Grasp the bar with your hands and lift your legs from the floor.Let yourself be rocked slowly back and forth so that existing blockages can be released.
Lie in lateral position with 90° in the knee and hip joint (embryo position).
Both arms are stretched out at chest height with palms facing each other. With the first deep, slow inhalation, the upper hand is stretched out to the other side. The gaze follows the palm of the hand, except for the arm and head the body remains in its starting position.

Now breathe in and out 5 times deeply into the expanded lung. When inhaling 6 times, the arm returns to the starting position. Then change sides.