Yesterday’s “Move Better” post on the Thoracic Rotation Test presented a way to assess your thoracic rotation mobility at home.
The thoracic spine is the mid-region of the spine that consists of twelve thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12) that are attached to the ribs posteriorly. The orientations of the joints in the thoracic spine allow for motion in several planes, including flexion, extension, rotation, and sidebending.
Sufficient thoracic rotation is important for sporting activities like golf, throwing sports, swimming, tennis, and kayaking/rowing. A lack of thoracic rotation mobility may impact someone’s performance with these activities. Impaired thoracic mobility may also cause increased stress through the shoulders, hips, and lower back, especially with activities that require repeated rotational movements. A sedentary lifestyle, including prolonged periods of sitting with poor posture, may increase the risk of losing thoracic mobility.
Exercises to improve your thoracic rotation are included in the video below:
If you are interested in other ways to improve your thoracic spine mobility, specifically thoracic spine extension, CLICK HERE.
