Figure 4.28 This girl is working on sustaining thoracic extension while her therapist lengthens the pectorals. The therapist opens the width of the upper chest as the hands are slowly moved along the muscle in parallel with the muscle fibers. The therapist may abduct her own fingers for additional stretch. Once she reaches the shoulders, she can move her hands laterally around the arm just below the shoulder joints as she externally rotates the shoulders. The shoulder's external rotation facilitates thoracic extension.