Lessons from a Halloween Skeleton

Lessons from a Halloween Skeleton

Happy October!

As physical therapists, sometimes we see things out in the world that make us think about our patients. This happened to me this week with a ... Halloween decoration! A Halloween skeleton, to be specific. Which part made me think of physical therapy? The rib cage! One thing I have learned working in this field over the years is how important the ribs are and how they can affect so many areas of your body. So what is normal for the rib cage?

First, let's talk about good rib position. Find your sternum right in the middle of your ribs. Now, place your flat hand pinky-size down under each side of your rib cage. (For even better info, take a washable marker and draw a line underneath each side of your rib cage). The angle between the two sides of your rib cage should be about 90 degrees. 

Next, place your hands flat on the bottom of both sides of your ribs. Inhale - your rib cage should move up and out. Exhale - your rib cage should move back down and in. 

What do you find? Is your angle too wide? We see this a lot, especially after pregnancy when the organs push up toward the ribs. 

Do your ribs move properly? Do they feel stuck?

No matter what you find, a good place to start is with focused breathing. Lay on your back with your hands cupping the lower part of your ribs (your pinky sits a little below). Inhale and focus on expanding your belly (not your chest and shoulders) while thinking about your ribs moving up and out. Then, exhale and feel them move back down and in. If your rib angle is too wide, focus on a stronger, deeper exhale to encourage the ribs to move back into the proper position.

 As always, for specific help working on your rib angle and movement, grab an in-person or virtual session with us at EYP. 

Happy fall!

Heather