Thoracic spine facilitated positional release
Page created: March 23, 2021
Thoracic spine facilitated positional release
OMM
OMM
Biomechanics: Muscle contractions
Components of the osteopathic structural examination
Fryette laws
Trigger points
Diagnostic skills
Introduction to muscle energy
Introduction to counterstrain
Introduction to facilitated positional release
Introduction to myofascial release
Introduction to high velocity low amplitude (HVLA)
Diagnosing cervical somatic dysfunction
Spurling test
Cervical muscle energy treatment
Cervical spine counterstrain
Cervical spine HVLA
Still technique for the cervical spine
Cervical spine facilitated positional release
Cervical spine myofascial release
Other cervical spine treatments
Diagnosing thoracic spine somatic dysfunction
Thoracic muscle energy treatment
Thoracic spine counterstrain
Thoracic spine HVLA
Still technique for the thoracic spine
Thoracic spine facilitated positional release
Thoracic spine myofascial release
Other thoracic spine treatments
Diagnosing lumbar spine somatic dysfunction
Lumbar muscle energy treatment
Lumbar spine counterstrain
Lumbar spine HVLA
Still technique for the lumbar spine
Lumbar spine facilitated positional release
Lumbar spine myofascial release
Other lumbar spine treatments
Diagnosing sacral somatic dysfunction
Sacrum muscle energy treatment
Sacrum counterstrain
Sacrum myofascial release
Diagnosing pelvis somatic dysfunction
Pelvis muscle energy treatment
Pelvis counterstrain
Other pelvis treatments
Diagnosing lower limb somatic dysfunction
Special tests for the lower limb
Lower limb muscle energy treatment
Lower limb counterstrain
Lower limb HVLA
Lower limb myofascial release
Other lower limb treatments
Diagnosing upper limb somatic dysfunction
Special tests for the upper limb
Upper limb muscle energy treatment
Upper limb counterstrain
Upper limb HVLA
Upper limb myofascial release
Other upper limb treatments
Diagnosing rib somatic dysfunction
Muscle energy for rib somatic dysfunction
Rib counterstrain
Rib HVLA
Other rib treatments
Viscerosomatics and facilitation
General visceral techniques
Chapman points
Primary respiratory mechanism
Cranial osteopathy: Cranial nerves
Diagnosing cranial somatic dysfunction
Cranial treatments
Treatment of the lymphatics
Notes
Thoracic spine
Thoracic spine facilitated positional release
Please refer to the "Introduction to facilitated positional release" learn page for more information about facilitated positional release (FPR).
THORACIC “EXTENSION” DYSFUNCTIONS
Example: T6 E SRRR
- Stand at the right side of the seated patient
- Place your left hand at the right transverse process of T6 to monitor the patient’s dysfunction
- Place your right forearm on the patient’s right shoulder with the remainder of the forearm and hand resting across the patient’s upper back
- Instruct the patient to sit up straight until extension is palpated at the level of T6
- Apply gentle compression with your right forearm downward into the thoracic spine
- While maintaining compression, apply an inferior and posterior force with the right forearm to position T6 into further extension, right side bending, and rotation (position of ease) until the T6 paravertebral muscles appear maximally relaxed
- Hold the position for 3–5 seconds and slowly release the compression, returning the patient to neutral
TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE HYPERTONICITY
Example: right-sided dysfunction
- With the patient lying prone, have them rotate their head and neck to the right
- Stand at the left side with the left hand palpating the right trapezius (fingers pointed toward their head)
- Grasp the patient’s right shoulder with your right hand around the anterior deltoid and AC joint
- With your right hand, gently pull the right shoulder inferior and posterior
- Apply an activating force in the form of gentle compression (from the shoulder toward the trapezius) with the right hand for 3–5 seconds or until a release is palpated
Author: Arman Israelyan, OMS-III
Editor: Matt Lipinski, DO
Editor: Robyn Hughes, MScBMC
Key Takeaways
Thoracic spine facilitated positional release (FPR) is a manual therapy technique used to relieve pain and improve mobility in the thoracic spine. It involves positioning the patient in a specific position that reduces tension and compression in the affected area, followed by gentle pressure to specific points on the body to release muscle tension and improve range of motion. Thoracic spine FPR is used to treat a variety of conditions like back pain, postural problems, and musculoskeletal disorders.