For instance, have you ever tried the superman exercise, only to feel the work generated only from your lower back? It’s important to note that many people bypass thoracic mobility by moving through their lumbar spine instead. And, if your posture tends toward kyphosis, you will likely have limited mobility in your thoracic spine. Thoracic immobility is also prevalent in new parents or caregivers - a result of carrying and feeding babies ( 16). Sports or activities that require you to bend forward often (think cycling) or keep an erect posture with little movement (like ballet) can also contribute ( 15). This may include a sedentary lifestyle, working at a desk, and hunching over tech devices. Repetitive postures and movements that lead to rounding forward can lead to a stiff thoracic spine. There are a few reasons for thoracic immobility. Keeping it supple and strong is key to maintaining your function. It’s important for almost every move you make. To put it simply: the thoracic spine is the link between your upper and lower body. Increasing thoracic mobility enhances dynamic alignment, functional movement, and execution of exercise -resulting in a better workout that adequately transfers load through the body while minimizing the risk of injury. And, in turn, limited respiratory function can also cause problems for the muscles of the pelvic floor ( 10). ![]() Limited thoracic mobility reduces respiratory function ( 4, 14). Poor alignment and mobility in the thoracic spine and pelvic region results in decreased function, limited breathing capacity, excess tension, and therefore more intra-abdominal pressure, which can contribute to or worsen conditions like diastasis recti, pelvic floor dysfunction, and prolapse ( 10, 11, 12, 13). The relationship of the thoracic spine to the pelvis is vital in addressing abdominal and pelvic floor dysfunction - in part because the pelvic floor muscles are connected to the muscles of the thorax via connective tissue ( 6, 10). Likewise, what happens above affects below. What’s more, research has found a link between thoracic spine dysfunction and injuries of the neck and shoulders ( 8, 9). Mobility of the T-spine is important for maintaining optimal posture, which in turn allows for the optimal functioning of organs while reducing pressure on the lower back and joints of the legs ( 5, 6, 7). Being able to twist and reach into a cupboard, bend and move around in the garden, get out of a car or get out of bed are all movements made possible by the thoracic spine. After all, we aren’t robotic humans that move in a linear fashion. Why is thoracic spine mobility important?Īdequate mobility of the thoracic spine is crucial for everyday life. These movements can be combined into a flowing and circular movement pattern that is the foundation for modalities such as Gyrotonic® exercise. The thoracic spine can move in more than one direction at once, such as side bend with rotation or a spinal twist with extension. The other movements - flexion, extension, and side bending - are considerably smaller in range in comparison to the movement of the lower cervical (neck) and lumber (low back) areas. The primary movement of the thoracic spine is rotation. ![]() It can flex and round forward, extend, rotate, and laterally flex (side bend). The thoracic spine is capable of multiple movements in several planes. ![]() Thoracic mobility is affected by numerous factors such as rib mobility, breathing mechanics, and muscular stiffness. The thoracic region also includes the front and sides of the upper body from underneath the collar bone to the end of the ribs. Not to mention, this large portion of the spine protects a big portion of the spinal cord - your brain’s communication mainline. It anchors the ribcage and, working together, the ribs and thoracic spine house vital organs such as the heart and lungs. It consists of vertebrae T1-T12, below the cervical spine (the vertebrae in your neck) and above the lumbar spine (the vertebrae in your lower back). The thoracic spine is the upper and middle portion of your back.
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