Thoracic Stiffness | What is it? How do you treat it?
Thoracic stiffness is a common issue that affects many individuals, often resulting from poor posture, prolonged sitting, or lack of physical activity. This condition can lead to discomfort, reduced mobility, and even impact your overall quality of life. However, it can be treated…and AVOIDED!
What is the Thoracic spine?
The thoracic spine includes the twelve vertebra in the middle of your back, from the base of the neck to the top of your lower back. It plays a crucial role in supporting our posture and protecting vital organs. As well as this it provides a large of amount of movement in the spine. In particular rotation and rib expansion are key. Unfortunately, it is a common area that gets stiff especially due to prolonged periods of sitting. Focussing on a screen for example causes the weight of the head to poke forwards, slumping the thoracic spine. Over time the joints are more compressed and thoracic stiffness develops.
Thoracic Stiffness: The Stiff & Bendy rule
Essentially, the human body is designed to move! We were designed to walk, run and climb. Be it to catch food or avoid prey. However, over centuries our common daily tasks have changed, especially in recent years. Sitting at a computer, or looking down at a phone or tablet for hours has become common place. As a result we develop certain postures that cause some joints to stiffen through lack of use, and others to become too mobile due to being over-used. This is essentially what creates a stiff & bendy pattern like in the diagram below:
Thoracic stiffness is a common result. The knock on effect is we move too much from the bits above and below, i.e. the middle of the neck and lower back. These two areas that often become painful and less stable and are the two of the most common regions we treat as physios.
Thoracic stiffness treatment
At The Physios Clinic in Sheffield, we understand the impact thoracic stiffness can have on your daily life. Our experienced physiotherapists are equipped to assess and treat these symptoms effectively. Treatment options for thoracic stiffness may include:
- Manual therapy techniques to improve joint mobility
- Targeted exercises to mobilise the mid-back
- Postural education and ergonomic advice
- Soft tissue massage to relieve muscle tension
- Acupuncture for pain relief
Prevention is key when it comes to thoracic stiffness. Incorporating regular stretching and strengthening exercises into your routine can help maintain flexibility and reduce the risk of developing stiffness. Additionally, being mindful of your posture throughout the day, especially during prolonged periods of sitting, can make a significant difference. Check out our blog on the perfect posture to find out more.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other injury book an appointment here. For any further information please call us on 0114 267 8181 or email [email protected]
