Vertebral blockages in the thoracic spine can cause pain in the back and thorax and occur relatively frequently. They can have different causes. Since we usually adopt one-sided postures in our everyday lives or at work, the joints of the thoracic spine can be excessively strained by tension in the muscles, which are constantly under equal strain, and thus become more susceptible to blockages.
Therapy and treatment
In physiotherapy for vertebral blockages in the thoracic spine, a distinction is made between acute therapy and cause-related therapy. Acute therapy first relieves the blockage in order to alleviate the patient’s symptoms. The therapy can be supplemented by heat, massages, positioning, pain medication or muscle relaxants.
In the case of recurring blockages, a precise diagnosis must be made, which will show the cause of the complaints and the background to them. Subsequently, an individual and targeted treatment plan is worked out, which, after the symptoms have been alleviated, also includes the elimination of the underlying causes. The treatment aims to avoid muscular imbalances, to correct posture and to teach a conscious approach to one’s own body.
Strengthening of weak and stretching of shortened musculature are part of the therapy for recurrent vertebral blockages as well as coordination training and improvement of trunk stability. The manual mobilization of individual joints, soft tissue techniques and heat application can be used in parallel. Particularly in the case of chronic, recurrent blockades, which are usually accompanied by structural changes, the patient should receive a homework program in addition to the physiotherapeutic treatment, which he can carry out on his own in order to achieve a long-term improvement in symptoms. You can find exercises for the thoracic spine here: Pain in the thoracic spine – Physiotherapy
Exercises
In the case of acute blockages, movement up to the maximum possible normal range of motion can help to release the blockage on its own. Rotational movements are suitable for this purpose, e.g. in a straddled seat on a chair or in a supine position on the floor (rotational stretching position). Aids such as tennis balls or fascial rollers can help to release acute blockades by “rolling over” them.
Breathing can also be used to support acute blockages. If the blockage cannot be released by the exercises, certain positions can be taken to relieve the symptoms. The child position (package seat) from yoga is suitable for this.
The hands are either folded under the head, stretched out in front of the body, or laid back long beside the body. The buttocks are placed on the heels, the head rests on the hands or the pad, and through deep inhalation and exhalation the thoracic spine including the costal joints can be mobilized. Since, in the case of recurring blockages, poor posture usually has an influence on the functional disorder of the spine, individually adapted exercises should be developed for the patient to correct the poor posture and improve the statics of the spine.
In most cases, a lack of posture due to a one-sided forward bending of the upper body is the cause of complaints in the thoracic spine. Straightening up can be improved by various exercises, such as rowing, butterfly reversing, Theraband exercises or exercises on the gym mat. This article may also be of interest to you: Exercises for a spinal block in BWS
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