A Physical Therapy Approach Using The Thoracic Rings

Physical therapists are known to sink our hands into clients’ armpits during assessments and treatments. Why would we do such a thing, you ask? We are feeling rib positions at rest and assessing their mobility with specific movements, as advocated by LJ Lee, PhD, BSc, BSc(PT), FCAMT, MCPA, a well-known international lecturer and Canadian physiotherapist. LJ developed the “The Thoracic Ring Approach,” an assessment and treatment paradigm that is a popular and effective approach used by physical therapists worldwide to find and treat pain and dysfunction throughout the body.

The thoracic rings reside in the thorax, the area of your body between the neck and low back. 136 joints are found in this region. They should be aligned properly and move normally for optimal, efficient movement and to allow transfer of forces through our system with movement of our trunk, arms, and legs.