Before beginning non-surgical treatment for pectus excavatum, it's crucial to measure the depth of your chest indentation.
Regularly tracking this measurement—ideally every day—can provide you with a clear view of your progress.
This daily monitoring not only shows how well your treatment is working but also serves as a powerful motivator, especially on days when sticking to the routine feels challenging.
In the early weeks, these measurements are particularly important. Seeing tangible progress will boost your confidence, help you psychologically, and reinforce that your efforts are making a difference.
Importance of Tracking
When I started my journey, I didn't write my progress down. That was a critical mistake that I made. Some days, I didn't feel like doing anything about my deformity.
I felt like fixing the chest indentation without surgery doesn't work, despite all the scientific literature that proves otherwise. I relied on external sources to find motivation.
How I Stayed Motivated
I fell in love with working out to the point that I used the gym to escape reality when I felt anxious. Some people rely on alcohol or drugs to cope with their anxiety, but fortunately, my distraction was working out.
I used every compliment from my buddies about my muscle-building results as fuel to continue my journey. However, relying on the validation of others can be very dangerous.
Fortunately, I had a supportive group of friends that recognized my psychological struggles and insecurities. They complimented the slightest improvement in my body appearance. That meant the world to me.
is Support Needed?
Suppose you follow the non-surgical treatment program and measure the depth of your deformity every day. In that case, you don't need others' compliments to motivate you.
You'll stay true to yourself and find the motivation in the notebook where you're documenting your progress. In this case, others' support will remain secondary, which can be used as additional fuel for your journey.
What You'll Need
To measure the indentation, all you need is:
- Simple ruler
- Tape measure
What to Do With the Ruler
Put the edge of the ruler horizontally, just underneath your pectoral muscles. That's where the thickness between the skin and ribcage is at its thinnest. Then, press the ruler hard on the ribcage so the skin goes out.
Now, take the tape measure with your other hand. Measure the distance from the ruler to the deepest point of the sunken breastbone.
Write down the distance and the day of measurement. Make sure you apply the same pressure every time you measure. This is critically important for accuracy.
Measure in Morning
It would be best if you did the measurement every single day simultaneously. It would help if you did it right after waking up. I don't recommend doing it after vacuum bell therapy.
During that time, the sternum gets elevated but falls to a normal position after a few hours. The measurement in the mornings accurately shows how indented your chest is.
How to Position Your Body
I recommend you measure it while standing up with a proper posture. You can also measure it while sitting or lying. However, it would help if you did it in the same conditions every time.
For example, if your first measurement is done in the morning while you're standing, then from now on, you should do the following measure in the same way.
