Learn effective physical therapy exercises to help manage pectus excavatum and improve chest wall strength and posture.
Key Takeaways
- Regular physical therapy exercises can help manage pectus excavatum symptoms.
- Controlled, slow repetitions and proper form are crucial for effectiveness.
- Exercises target chest wall, shoulder blades, and back muscles to improve posture.
- Gradual increase in exercise difficulty supports muscle strengthening and endurance.
- Consistency in twice-daily routines is recommended for optimal outcomes.
What the video covers
- Exercises aim to slow the progression of chest wall depression caused by pectus excavatum.
- Begin with push-ups from the floor, extending to straight elbows with a straight back.
- Perform arm lifts while lying on the back with weights, keeping elbows straight.
- Squeeze shoulder blades together while standing with arms at sides or clasped behind the head.
- Arch the body upward while lying face down, lifting arms and legs off the floor.
- Bend the trunk side to side against a wall with arms crossed overhead, keeping feet on the floor.
- Exercise sets typically involve 15 repetitions twice daily, with a controlled pace of one repetition every four seconds.
- Some exercises include holding positions for 2-3 seconds or 20 seconds for increased difficulty.
- The routine focuses on improving posture, strengthening chest and back muscles, and enhancing mobility.
- Consistency and gradual progression in exercise difficulty are emphasized for best results.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
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If you or your child has pectus excavatum, certain exercises may help slow the progression of the chest wall depression.
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Begin lying on the floor, push up extending to straight elbows.
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Maintain a straight back.
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Perform one set of 15 repetitions twice a day, perform one repetition every four seconds.
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Lie on your back with your arms out to the sides and your elbows straight, hold the weights in your hands.
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Lift your arms to the middle of your body, keeping elbows straight.
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Return to the starting position and repeat.
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Perform one set of 15 repetitions twice a day, perform one repetition every four seconds.
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Stand with your arms at your sides, squeeze both shoulder blades together.
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Relax and repeat.
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Perform one set of 15 repetitions twice a day.
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Perform one repetition every four seconds.
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Lie face down with arms outstretched over your head.
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Arch your body upward, raising your arms and legs off the floor.
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Return to the starting position and repeat.
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Perform one set of 15 repetitions twice a day, perform one repetition every four seconds and gradually increase the difficulty by holding the position for two or three seconds.
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Stand or sit with your hands clasped behind your head.
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Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
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Relax and repeat.
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Perform one set of two repetitions twice a day.
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Perform one repetition every four seconds.
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Stand against the wall, cross your arms over your head.
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Bend your trunk from side to side, keeping your shoulders and your arms against the wall, keep both feet on the floor.
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Return to the start position and bend in the opposite direction.
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Relax and repeat.
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Perform one set of two repetitions twice a day.
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Hold pose for 20 seconds.
Topics:pectus excavatumphysical therapychest wall exercisesposture improvementStanford Medicinechildren's healthshoulder blade exercisesback strengtheningrehabilitationexercise routine











