Chest mobilization exercises are any exercises that combine active movements of the trunk or extremities with deep breathing.21,60 They are designed to maintain or improve mobility of the chest wall, trunk, and shoulder girdles when it affects ventilation or postural alignment. For example, a patient with hypomobility of the trunk muscles on one side of […]

Symmetry of chest movement. Analysis of the symmetry of the moving chest during breathing gives the therapist information about the mobility of the thorax and indicates indirectly what areas of the lungs may or may not be responding.
Procedure: Place your hands on the patient’s chest and assess the excursion of each side of the thorax […]

Symmetry of the chest and trunk. Observe anteriorly, posteriorly, and laterally; the thoracic cage should be symmetrical.
Mobility of the trunk. Check active movements in all directions and identify any restricted spinal motions, particularly in the thoracic spine.
Shape and dimensions of the chest. The anteroposterior (AP) and lateral dimensions are usually 1:2. Common chest deformities include:
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Some patients benefit from spinal manipulation during the early stages of intervention. A clinical prediction validation study determined that those most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation presented with: (1) symptom duration of less than 16 days, with no symptoms distal to the knee; (2) at least one hypomobile lumbar segment; (3) at least one […]