Anatomy 101

The quality but also the deficiencies of the chest (upper part of the torso; it consists of thoracic spine, ribs and the sternum, making up the thorax - chest) are given by its complex structure. All the ribs are connected to the spine in the back. In the front, the first seven bones (true ribs) are connected directly to the breastbone or sternum; the next three pairs of bones are attached to the lowest true rib, and the last two sets of rib bones are not connected to anything.

The ribcage protects the thoracic organs, i.e. heart, lungs, thymus, gullet, trachea, aorta, thoracic lymph duct, lymph nodes, nerves, and it contains a large amount of small joints which are constantly in motion, even when you sleep. That enables the process of breathing.

Blocking these joints may simulate the infarction of the myocardium (striated muscle forming the wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart), stenocardia (the characteristic gripping pain behind the breast bone), breathing difficulties and certain types of pain in the back and breast bone. In children, it may lead to a scoliosis of the spine and protuberance of ribs onone side or their falling through and bad posture continues further. In adults, blocking of these joints leads to arthritis (pathological changes in the joints, their capsules and inner cartilages), and as a consequence of this a rib may grow together with the spine or breast bone. A painful lump sensitive to the touch may grow over the joint that is affected in this way.

All this may be caused by diseased internal organs, e.g. chronic coughing, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, dysfunction of the interrib muscles or individual large muscles of the chest, caused by inflammation/irritation or a hardened area in the muscle tissue.

You cannot unblock either the thoracic or the cervical spine on your own. The relief different kinds of rehabilitation exercises may bring is temporary; a permanent effect in unblocking the spine and ribs does not occur. At the Vertebral Centre we can rehabilitate (straighten) scolioses and remove the above-mentioned difficulties with a permanent or a long-term effect.

Everyone has a great capacity for recovery, but it needs to be said that a chiropractor is not God. Some severe afflictions when neglected and untreated for long years, or even unprofessionally treated can only be removed surgically. That may however be determined with certainty only after a personal consultation.

The following exercises will help those with minor problems of the thoracic spine and chest to have some relief. If that happens, clearly none of the serious afflictions described above, such as heart attack, asthma or stenocardia were involved.

Do these exercises standing; it is also possible to do them sitting when need be.

1) Press your palms together in front of your face, elbows pointing out to the sides. Keep pressing your hands against each other for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Repeat this exercise at the breast bone and stomach levels.

2) Interlock your fingers firmly in front of your body at shoulder level and try to pull this lock apart. Duration: 30 seconds to 1 minute. Change hands and repeat the exercise.

3) a-d) Clasp hands behind head (gently - to avoid straining the neck do not push the head downward), elbows point forward, head bowed, and breathe out. As you breathe in, gradually raise the head and elbows fully and rotate chest left and right (or the other way round). Breathe gently during the exercise.