11/24/2025
A great example of, "Its all connected."
Happy Turkey Week!
Hope everyone is doing well and is looking forward to family & food! No message last week as I was hunting with my family in Michigan. I didn't get anything but my cousin put down a beautiful ten point that we've been watching mature for years!
I do have an interesting message to share today though and it is based off another family members experience that is a lot less fun...
Most people think their neck tightness, shoulder irritation, or pressure behind the eyes comes from something smaller. Sleeping wrong, maybe poor posture, could be stress, etc. But very few people look at the part of the body that quietly drives all of those areas. The thoracic spine and rib cage.
When the mid back loses motion, the entire system above and below it becomes reactive. The neck takes over. The shoulders compensate. The diaphragm strains. The lymphatic system slows. And the sympathetic nerves that run along the spine start firing in ways that make people feel “off,” anxious, or stuck in survival mode.
This is not rare. I see it every week in the office. Today I want to show you how this works in real life and why this area matters far more than most people believe.
A simple story that explains everything
Someone in my family dealt with months of confusing symptoms that did not make sense at first. It started as mid back tightness on the left side near the shoulder blade. Over time it became headaches behind the left eye, pressure in the jaw and ear, and neck irritation that came and went.
The real issue was hidden. Her thoracic spine was barely moving. Recent imaging showed severe compromise of her spine in that region. When that part of the spine stiffens, the rib cage stiffens with it. And when the ribs stop moving, the lymphatic system slows because it relies on rib expansion, diaphragmatic movement, and pressure changes to drain fluid upward behind the ribs and under the collarbones.
Once that system slowed down, she began feeling congested in her chest and sinuses. Fluid was not clearing well. That buildup irritated the sympathetic nerves along the spine which can trigger sensations that mimic heart or neurological problems.
The scary part was that her scans were normal. Heart. Lungs. Brain. Bloodwork. Everything looked fine. And this is exactly why so many people get stuck.
Mechanical problems in the thoracic spine do not show up on imaging but they can create real systemic symptoms.
Two practical ways to improve your thoracic mobility this week
Here are two simple things anyone can try to keep the ribcage and t-spine moving (videos below.)
1. Eccentric IR DB Shoulder Rotations
2. Split Stance Cable/Band Punch.
These drills work because they target the mechanics that keep the entire upper body and lymph system functioning.
Why this matters for your health
Your thoracic spine is a high traffic zone. It affects the way you breathe, rotate, stabilize, clear fluid, and manage stress.
When it is locked up:
Your neck muscle work harder.
Your traps help you breathe.
Your diaphragm loses control.
Your lymphatic drainage slows.
Your sympathetic nerves become irritated.
Your symptoms start stacking one on another.
This is why some people feel “inflamed,” congested, or stuck in a heightened stress pattern without a medical diagnosis to explain it. The body is reacting to poor mechanics, not disease.
Restoring rib and thoracic mobility creates space for the nervous system to calm down, improves drainage, reduces pressure, and helps the neck and shoulders finally settle.
How we help at Charge
This is a core part of what I do with my patients. I assess your rib motion, thoracic rotation, breathing mechanics, and neural tension.
Then I adjust, reset, and rebuild the patterns that keep you out of pain and out of survival mode.
If this email feels like it describes you, try the exercises out and let us know how they go. If you think you need more direction first, book your next visit.
Your thoracic spine influences everything above it. When it moves, you move better. When it is stuck, the whole system feels it.
Let’s keep it moving.
Dr. Dom + Team
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