Pectus Excavatum refers to a condition in which the breast bone extends deeper than normal into the chest cavity. Although it is not painful, it can cause problems with the heart and lungs.
The right exercise can help prevent loss of mobility in your pulmonary and cardiac muscles.
Exercises to Improve Pectus Excavatum Symptoms
Your therapist will recommend different exercises that can help increase your muscle strength and improve your mobility. Postural control is another important component of physical therapy sessions.
The exercises are designed to improve the strength and posture of the chest muscles, reducing the chance of surgery.
These exercises can be repeated up to five times per week. However, postural control exercises should always be performed daily. Before you start any exercise, consult your physical therapist to ensure it is safe.
Here are some of the most common exercises.
Arm Sliders
Perform arm sliders by standing with your back against the wall. With your hips touching the wall, raise your arms overhead. Make sure your elbows and forearms touch the wall.
As you move your arms along the wall, take a slight inhale and exhale. Make sure your elbows and arms are in direct contact with the wall.
T-Stretch
This exercise opens the chest wall and stretches the pectoral muscles well. Stand straight and place a resistance band between your hands to perform the exercise. Next, bring your arms backward and extend your arms outwards so that your body looks like a letter T. The band will gently pull your arms apart. You can hold this stretch for anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds.
Push-Ups
This is the most popular exercise to treat disorientation in the chest.
It improves the strength of your pectoral muscles.
These exercises can be done lying on your back on the ground. Your palms should be at the level of your shoulders.
With your abdominals, push your body into a plank position. Hold this position for two seconds and then slowly lower down. Repeat this process 10 to 15 more times
These are the most important and essential exercises for pectus exavatum. You can also do any other exercise your physical therapist recommends based on your condition. This will ensure that you don’t have any cardio-pulmonary disorders.
