✳️Thoracic Spine Series – [Anatomy and Function]
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If we use the analogy of our spine as a ship ⛵️, your mid-back would be the mast. It acts an attachment point for the entire torso, most obvious as the anchor for your 12 sets of ribs. And also as an attachment for the muscles that help you breath 💨.
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It differs from other areas of the spine, it has:
🔸Increased ability to rotate (especially in the upper T-Spine)
🔸Smaller Intervertebral Discs
🔸Joints for the Ribs to Attach
An ‘average’ Thoracic Spine should have a slight ‘kyphosis’, meaning a front to back curve (see picture). A slight kyphosis is NORMAL, it allows for Force Absorption of the spine against gravity.
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However with aging or hunched over posture 🙇🏻from the amount of desk work we do in modern times, This kyphosis can get accentuated. This leads to:
🔹Stretching of muscles around the mid-back
🔹Restriction of full inspiration of breath
🔹Inability to properly extend or rotate with certain movements 🏌🏋️♀️
.
☝️It’s important to maintain proper movement of the Thoracic spine, and I’ll show you some of my go-to exercises over the next few posts….now to get off my chair and get moving 😅
.
If we use the analogy of our spine as a ship ⛵️, your mid-back would be the mast. It acts an attachment point for the entire torso, most obvious as the anchor for your 12 sets of ribs. And also as an attachment for the muscles that help you breath 💨.
.
It differs from other areas of the spine, it has:
🔸Increased ability to rotate (especially in the upper T-Spine)
🔸Smaller Intervertebral Discs
🔸Joints for the Ribs to Attach
An ‘average’ Thoracic Spine should have a slight ‘kyphosis’, meaning a front to back curve (see picture). A slight kyphosis is NORMAL, it allows for Force Absorption of the spine against gravity.
.
However with aging or hunched over posture 🙇🏻from the amount of desk work we do in modern times, This kyphosis can get accentuated. This leads to:
🔹Stretching of muscles around the mid-back
🔹Restriction of full inspiration of breath
🔹Inability to properly extend or rotate with certain movements 🏌🏋️♀️
.
☝️It’s important to maintain proper movement of the Thoracic spine, and I’ll show you some of my go-to exercises over the next few posts….now to get off my chair and get moving 😅
