The Thoracic Ring Approach

The Thoracic Ring Approach™

Do you experience persistent lower back or pelvic pain, mid-back stiffness, or difficulty taking a full breath, despite exercise, stretching, or manual therapy?

Maybe you’re a runner struggling with recurring stress fractures or tendon issues, or someone dealing with hip pain, pelvic floor problems, or plateaued recovery from concussion or injury.

Even symptoms like anxiety, jitteriness, sleep disturbances, or excessive sweating can sometimes trace back to the same root cause: dysfunction in your thoracic spine and ribcage.

At RedoHealth, our therapists use the Thoracic Ring Approach™, a unique assessment and treatment model designed to restore optimal function to your thorax and improve your movement, breathing, and overall health.

Brendan and Jane are both Certified ConnectTherapy™ Practitioners with extensive training in the Thoracic Ring Approach™.

What is the Thoracic Ring Approach?

Developed by Dr. Linda-Joy (LJ) Lee, Physiotherapist and international educator, the Thoracic Ring Approach™ is a 3-dimensional, functional framework for the thoracic spine and ribcage, also referred to as the thorax. LJ’s approach goes beyond traditional manual therapy by considering the thorax as a complete system and each segment or level – the Thoracic Ring – that plays a crucial role in movement, breathing, and core stability.

Since 2002, LJ has evolved this approach through almost two decades of clinical research, post-graduate teaching, and her own injury recovery experience.

At RedoHealth, we bring you the most up-to-date, advanced Thoracic Ring techniques available.

Why the Thorax Matters

Your thorax – made up of your thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and associated muscles – accounts for up to 30% of your body’s length and 35% of its mass.

Dysfunction in this region can:

Alter load distribution through your legs, contributing to repetitive injuries like stress fractures and tendinopathies.
Limit breathing patterns and efficiency, affecting performance in running, twisting, or jumping.
Impact trunk rotation and “core” muscle recruitment, affecting abdominals, diaphragm, and pelvic floor function.
Influence your Sympathetic Nervous System, contributing to anxiety, sleep disturbances, or excessive sweating.

Even without direct thoracic pain, your thorax can be the hidden driver behind problems elsewhere in your body.

How the Thoracic Ring Approach is Different

Unlike traditional treatments that focus solely on the back of the thorax or rely on stretching and manipulation, the Thoracic Ring Approach™:

Treats the thoracic spine and ribs as a 3-dimensional, functional ring.
Uses movement-based, meaningful exercises to train muscle control, balance, strength, and endurance.
Integrates hands-on thoracic releases with exercise to retrain optimal movement patterns efficiently.
Focuses on neuromuscular control, restoring the “spring” function of your thoracic rings.

Our goal is to help you self-manage your symptoms through targeted exercises that improve movement, stability, and breathing.

Who Can Benefit?

The Thoracic Ring Approach™ may help if you have:

Lower back, pelvic, or hip pain that keeps recurring
Mid-back stiffness or discomfort that doesn’t improve with rolling, needling, or manipulation
Breathing limitations during activity
Pelvic floor issues such as incontinence or prolapse
Recurrent running injuries or tendon problems
Anxiety, sleep disturbances, or other signs of sympathetic nervous system overactivity

It’s important to note that not all issues require thoracic treatment.

Using the Drivers Diagnostic Chart™, we assess whether thoracic dysfunction is the key driver of your symptoms, ensuring the most effective, individualized care.

Optimizing Your Thoracic Function

Through the Thoracic Ring Approach™, we can help you:

Restore flexible, fluid movement throughout your trunk
Improve breathing efficiency in multiple patterns and activities
Enhance core and pelvic floor muscle function
Reduce repetitive strain injuries
Support recovery from injuries or plateaus in progress
Improve nervous system regulation and overall well-being

How It’s Different

Instead of just stretching or rolling, the Thoracic Ring Approach™:

Treats your thorax as a 3D functional ring
Trains muscle control, balance, and strength
Integrates hands-on releases with exercises
Retrains movement patterns for lasting results

The Benefits

Move more freely and with less pain
Improve breathing for sport, exercise, and daily life
Reduce repetitive strain and injury risk
Support pelvic floor and core function
Enhance recovery and nervous system regulation

Discover if the Thoracic Ring Approach™ can help you.

Ready to Experience the Thoracic Ring Approach™?

If you want to optimize your thoracic function, reduce pain, and enhance performance, our RedoHealth therapists are here to help.

Thoracic Ring Approach™

Unlock better movement, breathing, and overall body function

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The Thoracic Ring Approach