Foam Roller : Thoracic Spine Mobility
Why is Thoracic Spine Mobility so Important?
The thoracic spine is the longest segment of the spine running from the neck to the abdomen. It is the only area of the spine that connects to the ribs. This area of the spine plays a vital role in load transfer between the upper and lower body. It also is a main contributor to rotational movement within the body. Because of this, poor thoracic spine mobility can contribute to issues at the neck, shoulder, low back, and hip.
How to improve thoracic extension and rotation:
- Lumbar Locked Rotation
- Foam Roller
- Quadruped Thoracic Rotation
- Sidelying Windmills
- T-Spine Rotation with Hip Hinge
- Overhead Wall Pushes
Check out our YouTube Channel and follow our Glendale Locations Instagram page for more information on improving Thoracic spine mobility.
Foam Roller: Thoracic Extension
The foam roller is a great tool to assist in improving thoracic spine mobility. Most people rolling their spine tend to just go back and forth for several minutes over their spine. This doesn't create thoracic extension.The main objective of foam rolling is to relax the spine over the roller so we get some mobility in the vertebral joints of the thoracic spine. The key is relaxing your spine over the roller in several different segments along the thoracic spine. Check out our video below on how to use a foam roller to improve thoracic extension.