People try to stand up straight when they are stooped forward. The fact is, Parkinson’s Disease makes the pectoral muscles of the chest really tight. It’s almost impossible to straighten up because the tissue is working against you. You’ll need to break up the tight connective tissue manually, and you can do this yourself!
This self-myofascial release technique for the chest and ribs will help create better posture. It will also relive shoulder pain resulting from forward rounded posture that Parkinson’s disease causes.
This muscle group dramatically affects the function of the shoulder and balance between the front and back muscles. Parkinson’s causes the pectoral muscles to get overly tight and pull the shoulder forward, displacing the humerus (arm bone) and causing movement of the shoulder to become problematic and painful, and can cause stooped posture.
This technique is easy and only requires a soft ball and a larger inflatable ball. Self-myofascial release for the chest is a great way to help loosen those tight muscles and help you stand straighter.
Here’s how to do the easy self-myofascial release technique for the chest.
Watch this video:
- Start by bringing your arm into an upward 90-degree angle at the elbow, and hug the larger ball.
- Keep the shoulder, elbow, and wrist at the same height.
- Hinge open and close the arm and ball several times while facing forward.
- Then start rotating the head and ribcage, and looking to the side.
- Place the softball in your opposite hand.
- While hinging the big ball back and forth, press the soft ball into the tissue between your sternum (chest bone) and your collar bone.
- If you don’t have a softball, your fingertips alone can provide an even more exact area to press and massage your tissue (some people even prefer this to the softball).
- While applying slight pressure, roll the ball out towards your arm. Lift the ball and repeat that motion a few more times in that line.
- Move the ball down an inch and repeat, moving the ball from the middle chest to the arm, all while hinging the big ball back and forth.
- Switch hands and repeat this whole process on the opposite side of the chest.
When you are done, you will immediately feel a little looser through the chest, which will allow the shoulders to roll back a little. Do this daily, and certainly before exercising.
Think Tall Always,
- 💜 Coach Kimberly