Diagnostics Quick Test Thoracic Spine

Ask the person to stand in a comfortable position and inquire about how they handle a vacuum cleaner or insert a shovel into the ground. One of their hands will be positioned lower on the handle, providing an indication of the lateral flexion preferred by the entire Thoracic Spine. If the left hand is lower, it indicates a preference for left lateral flexion of the Thoracic Spine. If the right hand is lower, then the Thoracic Spine is preferably oriented to the right lateral flexion.

Since the Cervico-Thoracic Transition (C6 – Th1) always favours flexion, the lateral flexion component in this region is considered the second parameter, thereby assuming knowledge of the third parameter. When asking the person to perform a 'power grip' with their hands, pay attention to the thumb (pollux) placed on top of the other. If the right thumb is on top, it indicates a rotation to the left of the upper part of the Thoracic Spine (Th2 – Th6). If the left thumb is on top, the preference is a rotation to the right of this part of the Thoracic Spine. Again, this is considered the second parameter, with the lateral flexion already known from vacuuming/shovelling. The combination with the rotation component reveals the third parameter.

When asking the person to 'cross their arms,' observe the forearm that crosses in front of the other. If the left arm is crossed in front of the right arm, it indicates a rotation to the right of the lower part of the Thoracic Spine (Th7-Th12), which is preferred. If the right arm crosses in front, then the rotational preference of this part of the spine is towards the left. Here again, this is the second parameter after the previously identified lateral flexion. These two parameters reveal the third.

The identified parameters can be combined and schematically represented to show which parts of the Thoracic Spine prefer which movements.

By examining the Thoracic Spine be aware that the corresponding skeletal structures have the same preferences as the part of the Thoracic Spine to which they belong.