Chest pain, shortness of breath and irritable cough can be a result of adhesions that forms after healing of chest infection or inflammatory conditions such as pneumonia and pleuritis. The body’s natural healing process can result in the formation of adhesions between the parietal (chest wall) and visceral (lung) pleura.
These adhesions can restrict the normal sliding and expansion of the lungs during breathing.

The adhesions can limit the lung’s ability to fully expand, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath, particularly with deep breaths or coughing. It can also impair the normal mechanics of breathing, reduc the efficiency of respiratory muscles, decrease the ability to take deep breaths, clear secretions, and maintain adequate oxygenation. As well the loss of expandability in the lung ultimately causes strain on the heart, and reduction of the venous return flow to the heart.

Treatment:

Manual therapy can be used to address various chest-related symptoms such as, chest wall Pain, chest secretions from the lungs and relief the irritable cough.

Manual therapy should be tailored to the individual patient’s needs and underlying condition in the form of

1. Mobilization of ribs 1-5 on both sides.
2. Clavicular mobilization (fascial fixation).
3. Costo-sternal-joints 1-7 on both sides. 
4. Mobilization around the coracoid process and acromion. 
5. Mobilization around the sternum.
6. Mobilization of transversus thoracic. 
7. Mobilization of clavi-pectoral fascia.