Acute Effect of Thoracic Mobility Exercises on Respiratory Function and Thoracolumbar Mobility in Healthy Adults: A...

Thoracic mobility is integral to respiratory function and mobility of the neck, shoulder, and spine. The efficacy of thoracic mobility exercises in enhancing respiratory function and spinal range of motion (ROM) is well documented within the pathologic population. However, the exercises are not well studied in young heathy individuals who perform the exercises to improve physical function. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the acute effects of thoracic mobility exercises on respiratory function and thoracic mobility in young, healthy individuals.

Crossover trial.

Fifteen physically active college-aged individuals attended 2 testing sessions, intervention and control, in a counterbalanced order. The pre- and posttest included an assessment of respiratory function, rib expansion, thoracic flexion/extension ROM, and thoracolumbar rotation ROM. Between the pre- and posttests, participants in the intervention session performed thoracic mobility exercises, and participants in the control session walked briskly for the same time. The effect of the intervention on each variable was compared using a 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance.

The intervention did not improve respiratory function but did result in an acute increase in thoracic extension and thoracolumbar rotation ROM to the right, although these changes were within the minimally detectable change. Rib cage expansion, spinal flexion ROM, and thoracolumbar rotation ROM to the left showed no improvement following the intervention.

A single session of thoracic mobility exercises resulted in a statistically significant increase in thoracic spine extension and thoracolumbar rotation ROM to the right; however, these changes were too small to be considered clinically meaningful. This study provides groundwork for future research examining the long-term benefits of thoracic mobility exercises on sports performance and injury risk in athletic populations.