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Podcast listeners, thank you so much for checking out today's show.

This is episode 53 of the Squat University podcast.

The goal with each and every one of these shows is to bring you as much value-packed content

to help you move better in the gym and in life, decrease your bodies, aches, and pains

and help you reach your true athletic potential.

Today, I want to do just a quick podcast centered around your mid-back or thoracic spine.

Now, why is this area so important?

Well, in almost every type of barbell lift that we're doing,

ideal technique requires a certain amount of thoracic spine extension.

Now, let's explain this a little bit.

Let's start off with a little bit of anatomy.

If you look at the architecture, the setup of the midback,

if you're scrolling through an anatomy textbook like we got in school, or if you just do a simple Google search, mid-back thoracic spine, you'll get an anatomy photo and you'll notice that the mid-back is actually slightly rounded the opposite way of the lumbar spine.

This is called thoracic kifosis for all my science nerds out there,

but basically the thoracic spine is a little bit rounded and it's naturally pretty stiff and stable.

Now, it has to be pretty stiff because all the ribs that connect there help provide sufficient

protection for all of our vital organs

that lie close by right underneath.

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