Exercises to Mobilize the Chest of Patients with pulmonary disease

Chest Mobilization

Chest mobilization exercises are any exercises that combine the active movement of the trunk or extremities with deep breathing.

Goal

• Maintain or improve mobility of chest wall, Trunk, and shoulder girdles.

To Mobilize One Side of the Chest

1. While sitting, the patient bends away from the tight side to lengthen the hypomobile structures and expand that side of the chest during inspiration.
2. Then, the patient pushes the fisted hand into the lateral aspect of the chest, as he bends toward the tight side and breathes out.
3. Progress by having the patient raise the arm on the tight side of the chest over the head and side bend away from the tight side. This will give additional stretch on hypermobile tissues.

To mobilize the upper chest and stretch the pectoralis muscles

1. While the patient is sitting on a chair with the hand clasped behind the head and horizontally abduct the arm during a deep inspiration.
2. Then, instruct the patients to bring the elbows together and bend forward during expiration.

To mobilize the upper chest and shoulders

1. While the patient is sitting on a chair with 180-degree bilateral shoulder flexion and slight abduction during inspiration. 
2. Then, the patient bend forward at the hips and reach for the floor during expiration.