When testing for thoraco-lumbar flexion, my patient could easily touch the floor during the Standing Reach Test, however, she still maintained a very flat thoracic spine. I feel the movement was coming from her lumbar spine and hips. Can I still treat her with the exercises to improve thoracic flexion/inhibit extensors?
Your patient has a flat back with long hamstrings. And yes, you can treat her with thoracic lumbar flexion activities (because this is always good for a flat back patient) as long as you don’t forget the need to target the hamstrings in a shortened state (maybe as a part of your standing BC activities) or with an activity like the Prone Reciprocal Hamstring Curls.
