Core · Bodyweight
Thoracic Spine Rotation
How to do the thoracic spine rotation, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Timed hold
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Mobility
How to do it
Sit on floor, one leg extended, other foot flat on floor outside opposite knee. Place opposite hand on bent knee, other hand behind for support. Rotate upper body towards bent knee, hold, then switch sides.
- 1Feel a gentle opening across your chest and upper back as you rotate
- 2Keep your lower back stable so the rotation comes from your thoracic spine
- 3Breathe deeply and allow your ribcage to expand with each twist
Common mistakes
- Avoid forcing the twist or allowing your hips to roll; keep knees stacked
- Don't crank your neck to look further; let your eyes follow your hand naturally
- Avoid arching your lower back; keep it neutral
Muscles worked
The thoracic spine rotation works the obliques.
- ObliquesSupport
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the thoracic spine rotation for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed April 2026.