Office Location: 1817 S Main Street, Suite 10 SLC, UT 84115 | Phone 801 . 859 . 4142
Align Integration & Movement
  • Home
  • Work with Me
    • Request an Appointment
    • Rates & Insurance
    • Orthopedic & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy
    • Visceral Manipulation
    • Biofield Tuning®
    • Restore Room: Enhance your healing with Whole Body Vibration & The Vitalizer Chi Machine
    • NeuroKinetic Therapy™
    • Nutritious Movement™
    • Workshops
    • Testimonials
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • My Philosophy
  • Store
  • Podcast

Improving Thoracic Rotation

11/18/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
This image demonstrates the opposite rotation of thorax and pelvis during a kick: the pelvis rotates left as the thorax rotates right.
During the gait cycle our spine goes through flexion, extension, side bending and rotation.  When we step forward and load onto that leg, the pelvis rotates away from the front leg, the lumbar & thoracic spine extends, rotates and sidebends toward the front leg and the cervical spine flexes, sidebends and rotates away from the front leg.  If what you just read is "gobblygook" just look to the picture on the left.  This soccer kick is a great demonstration of what the body does during gait: it is like a spiral.
Motion is our friend, and quite often we lose it, especially in the thorax.  Look around at people walking, how many people do you see who have an arm swing, much less rotation at their trunk?  Not many.  Are you one of them?
Test yourself: in sitting rotate your trunk right and left. Ideally you should have moved about 45 degrees.  In standing, plant your feet hip width apart and rotate, let your pelvis rotate as well.  Ideally you should move the trunk 90 degrees.  How did you do?  You may notice that you are stiff in both directions, or just on one side.  If you are stiff try these exercises below.  And then see if you can incorporate arm swing and rotation into gait.
Susan McLaughlin is a physical therapist who specializes in the management of pelvic floor and orthopedic dysfunctions. She is the owner of ALIGN integration|movement in Salt Lake City, UT.  Helpful tips and other self care strategies can be found at www.alignforhealth.com.
3 Comments

    Author

    Susan McLaughlin,
    Physical Therapist

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FEEL GOOD SERIES:
    Movement videos for download

    Picture

    Products I love:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Props for home:

    Disclosure: I only recommend programs and products that I would use myself.  If you use these links to purchase something, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Thank you.  

    Categories

    All
    Alignment
    Back Pain
    Breathing
    Chronic Pain
    Core Stabilization
    Fascial Health
    Foot Health
    Healing The Nervous System
    Hip Pain
    Knee Pain
    Lower Extremity
    Neck And Upper Extremity
    Pelvic Health
    Postpartum Healing
    Pregnancy
    Psoas Release
    Self Care
    Shoulder Girdle
    Shoulder Pain
    Si Joint Pain
    Spine
    Thoracic Mobility
    Transversus Abdominis
    Treatment For Si Dysfunction
    Walking
    Wrist

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2022
    May 2022
    November 2021
    April 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Office:  1817 S Main Street, Suite 10 | SLC, UT 84115
Located in the Forrester Office Complex


ALIGN integration | movement, PLLC.  All rights reserved.
@2012-2023
​Medical Disclaimer        Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
Good Faith Estimate
​

Contact:  Susan McLaughlin, PT 801.859.4142
susan@alignforhealth.com