Other/Mixed What is Thoracic Mobility?

[Smile-n-Nod]

What is thoracic mobility? Is is the ability for the spine to move or flex in a certain (or any) direction? Does it refer to flexibility of the rib cage also? How does one know if one has thoracic mobility? How does the kettlebell arm-bar improve thoracic mobility?

 

[jca17]

The thoracic spine is the group of vertebrae to which the ribs attach. Most people who live in sedentary society have a lack of rotational mobility and also lack of extension. Bretzels and arm bars help recover mobility and stability with thoracic rotation by keeping the pelvis locked in to prevent lumbar rotation while rotating the upper body. They also help with thoracic extension as an effort is made to lift the sternum up and away from the belly button (once again, while keeping the pelvis locked in to avoid lumbar extension).

Lack of thoracic extension is often found with its cousin, the internally rotated and dumped forward shoulders.

 

[pet']

Hello,

To me, thoracic mobility is the ability to do spine flexion (pike compression), extension and rotation. This, is this linked to ribcage flexibility then.

I mainly train it doing:
- back bridge
- toe touch (pike compression)
- twist hold

Kind regards,

Pet'