Seated Thoracic Rotation with Breathing

The Seated Thoracic - Rotation with Breathing is a Stretching tehcnique used to increase the available active Rotation Range of Motion.

Involved Muscles

The following muscle s likely experience stretching on the side contralateral (opposite) to the direction of rotation:

• Intercostals

• External Obliques

• Latissimus Dorsi

• Erector Spinae of the Thoracic Spine and Lumbar Spine

• Multifidus and Rotatores

Procedure

Starting Position:

• Patient is seated upright with hands interlocked behind their head

Rotation is first performed to establish a baseline and the presence of any asymmetries. The exercise is then performed with the following sequence:

1. Full ipsilateral Thoracic - Rotation

2. Add ipsilateral Thoracic - Lateral Flexion

3. 3 deep breaths in this position

4. Remove Lateral Flexion and attempt to Rotate further

This sequence can be repeated several times each direction.

Cluster

Regression

As the Seated Thoracic Rotation with Breathing is quite rudimentary, there are few simpler/ more accessible exercises:

• Passive Thoracic - Rotation - aided by practitioner

• Active Thoracic - Rotation

• Supine Spinal Twists - laying flat on back and The Knee s/ The Hip s flexed, Rotation is achieved by alternating the lowering of both legs to either side

Progression

The following Stretching techniques may be used as a progression to the Thoracic Rotation with Breathing:

• Bent Over Lat Stretch - Horizontal GH Joint - Adduction variation

• Swimmers Oblique Extensions - exercise that may be used to lengthen entire Lateral Line through large body-wide lateral-flexion range

• Bretzel 1.0 - wholebody technical stretch that incorporates anterior shoulder

• Bretzel 2.0 - variation with greater hip extension range