Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching and Scapular Retraction in Asthma Patients

Authors
Category Primary study
Registry of TrialsClinicalTrials.gov
Year 2026
Patients with asthma frequently experience upper back stiffness and rounded shoulders and tightness in the thoracic region. Rib cage stiffness occurs due to poor posture and muscle tightness, which leads to decreased chest expansion and increased use of accessory muscles during breathing. Additionally, rounded shoulders can hinder proper opening of the chest, preventing the lungs from expanding properly. Thoracic spine rotation stretching targets the thoracic paraspinal muscles, erector spinae, and intercostal muscles. This exercise helps improve thoracic mobility, increases chest expansion and pulmonary function, and reduces dyspnea. The other exercise is Scapular Retraction, which targets the rhomboids, trapezius, and posterior deltoids that help in chest opening and lead to chest expansion and allow lungs to expand more fully during inhalation. Together, these exercises improve chest expansion and pulmonary function, reduce dyspnea, and improve posture.
Epistemonikos ID: 2f88579d508995f43fdaf9baaee1977a3371ded3
First added on: Apr 03, 2026