RX'D Radio E634: T-Spine Mobility & Breathing Mechanics: It's Only a Problem If It's a Problem
Feb 4, 2026
Clear movement tests and simple drills for observing and training thoracic spine and ribcage strategies. How to teach ribcage awareness, resist or create ribcage motion during lifts, and scale loading to build control. Connections between scapular mechanics, obliques, diaphragms, and breathing. Practical cues for breathing within exercises and when to prioritize T-spine work.
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Assess T‑Spine With Functional Moves
- Assess T-spine by watching functional tasks like lunges and full shoulder flexion to see ribcage–pelvis coordination.
- These movements reveal whether someone lacks awareness or stability before doing targeted drills.
Use Sensation First, Then Load
- Teach ribcage control by creating sensations with simple drills, then require clients to replicate them during loaded exercises.
- Use half‑kneeling banded book openers, side planks and supine 90/90 curl‑ups as build‑up cues.
Train Static Lower, Dynamic Upper Ribs
- Resist ribcage motion on lower‑body tasks and promote rib movement on upper‑body tasks to train context‑specific control.
- Use single‑leg RDLs, split squats for resisting and unilateral presses or rotational presses for dynamic rib work.