Side Lying Thoracic Rotation

To increase thoracic spinal rotation to the left:

  • The patient is side lying on their right side with both hips flexed below 90º.
  • Have the patient place their left hand behind the head with their right arm straight out in front of them.
  • Instruct the patient to rotate back to the left as far as they can then return to midline and repeat again 5 times.
  • Then have them flex both hips to 90º and rotate back again 5 times.
  • Finally, have the patient flex both hips above 90º and rotate back 5 times.
  • As they flex their hips higher they move the focus of the rotation higher up their spine.
  • They repeat the exercise 5 times in each position to the opposite side, with the hips flexed below, at and above 90º.