LIFE+ Blog

I’s, Y’s, and T’s

When these exercises are performed correctly, they will not only help bring the patient’s shoulders back, but also help strengthen the lower trapezius, which is vital to force couple necessary for scapular rotation. The trick is to make sure to squeeze the shoulder blades DOWN and back, before complete the humeral movement.

During humeral movement, it’s important to limit upper trap activation, especially during Y’s. Keeping the scapula back helps to properly stabilize the shoulders, and is very important because it keeps the scapula pinned against the thoracic cage, allowing the humerus proximal stability to its distal mobility.

This exercise not only helps patients strengthen their lower trapezius, it also helps teach them to decrease activation of the upper traps with overhead movement. This is very important when it comes to helping pull patients’ shoulders down and back naturally when adopting a natural position.

I's

Lie face down, forehead resting on bed/floor. Folded towel may be placed under forehead. Place arms at sides, palms facing body. Raise arms off floor.

Y's

Lie face down, forehead resting on floor/bed. Folded towel may be placed under forehead to keep neck in neutral alignment. Form a Y shape with outstretched arms (arms overhead and slightly out to sides). Point thumbs toward ceiling. Squeeze shoulder blades together and raise arms off floor as high as possible (usually inches). Lower to starting position and repeat 10 times.

T's

Lie face down, forehead resting on floor/bed. Folded towel may be placed under forehead.  Form a T shape – arms out to sides, palms facing floor. Squeeze shoulder blades together and raise arms off floor. Do not lock elbows. Pause and lower to start position. Repeat 10 times.

Trunk rotations (Around the Worlds)

This is a great exercise for everyone to perform because it helps to increase thoracic mobility and decrease thoracic kyphosis. As people sit in chairs over the years, they slowly become those chairs. These exercises increase mobility in all three planes.

It is very important to make sure to have your hips and knees bent at 90 degrees to lock the lumbar spine. When performing Around the Worlds, it is important to have the thumb of the top/moving hand pointed trying to stay in contact with the floor throughout the range of the exercise. This helps make sure that mobility into the frontal, sagittal and transverse plane.

This exercise helps give patients the mobility necessary to sit taller and even helps their ability to pull the scapula down. Overhead motion of the arm also requires minimal thoracic extension, so functional activities will be the improved as well.

It is important to note, that those with flatter backs such as certain athletes (e.g. baseball players), techniques to increase thoracic kyphosis may be implemented as well, such as PRI (postural restoration) techniques.

These two exercises are very easy and essential exercises to help prevent loss of mobility and function as we age. For the many people out there who sit at a desk all day, taking the time a couple times a day to perform trunk rotations can do wonders going forward.