Thoracic Facia joint stiffness

[iain]

For a while now whenever I step up my training to 40k+ per week, I suffer from a pain that feels similar to but milder than a broken rib. A physio has diagnosed this as stiffness in a thoracic facia joint and manipulation provides relief for a couple of weeks before it comes back. The pain is noticeable when rowing, it rarely stops me, but it is intense enough to deter fast acceleration. The pain increases some 5+ hours after rowing. Rowing at higher work per stroke increases the pain and can lead to enough discomfort to discourage me for rowing for a day or 2 (it fades overnight).

Has anyone had anything similar? Any ideas on a more permanent improvement?

Thanks for your thoughts.

- Iain

[Sakly]

As soon as I read "stiffness" I think of mobilising it instead of manipulation by a PT. Later one cannot solve any problem, as it does not work on the root cause.
Stiffness and pain is typically related to weak links in the chain. Probably your thoracic spine is not mobile enough to transfer the load to the handle, so it has to work unnatural. Probably the weak link is anywhere else and your thoracic compensates for it. A good PT should be able to help out (not doing manipulation every time you share your problem).

[iain]

As soon as I read "stiffness" I think of mobilising it instead of manipulation by a PT. Later one cannot solve any problem, as it does not work on the root cause.
Stiffness and pain is typically related to weak links in the chain. Probably your thoracic spine is not mobile enough to transfer the load to the handle, so it has to work unnatural. Probably the weak link is anywhere else and your thoracic compensates for it. A good PT should be able to help out (not doing manipulation every time you share your problem).

Apologies, the term "manipulation" was mine not the PTs, "Stiffness of a thoracic Facia joint"" was their diagnosis. The process involves them pressing into and around the affected joints. To flesh out my above description, the most pain is induced when I cough or particularly sneeze.

[Sakly]

As soon as I read "stiffness" I think of mobilising it instead of manipulation by a PT. Later one cannot solve any problem, as it does not work on the root cause.
Stiffness and pain is typically related to weak links in the chain. Probably your thoracic spine is not mobile enough to transfer the load to the handle, so it has to work unnatural. Probably the weak link is anywhere else and your thoracic compensates for it. A good PT should be able to help out (not doing manipulation every time you share your problem).

Apologies, the term "manipulation" was mine not the PTs, "Stiffness of a thoracic Facia joint"" was their diagnosis. The process involves them pressing into and around the affected joints. To flesh out my above description, the most pain is induced when I cough or particularly sneeze.

Manual therapy using pressing or adjustment techniques is what I understand using the term manipulation.
Long term such therapy is typically not helping (if the joint was not dislocated due to wrong movement or any impact), as the underlying cause is not taken into account.
Usually stiffness of muscles is caused by wrong usage of the muscles, as they need to compensate for any wrong movements or other muscles, which are not doing their job sufficiently.
I would start to work on thoracic mobility, do some drills for it. Additionally I would always suggest to work on good shoulder mobility and neck posture, as this often relates to thoracic spine problems.