Dave Draper’s Musclebuilding Q&A

A question that has been nagging me for some time is related to my chest. I have a condition called Pectus Excavatum. Many people have this condition (even women). Most people have only a slight indentation, mine is quite pronounced. I was hoping to find out what sort of chest muscles someone with my condition has (ie do I have the same amount of chest muscle available for development as other people?) because it seems that it is extremely slow in developing.  Are there limitations to my chest structure that can hinder my progress?

I have little valid information or advice to contribute as you seek to resolve your pec condition. Your web research indicates it’s a rib structure problem perhaps due to the early excessive growth of particular cartilage. The muscles are there, but the muscle mechanics are altered. The fix, if the condition requires it or is a choice, is in invasive surgery and restructuring and reconditioning.

The statement that stuck out in the the site you sent me to was this: However, bodybuilding type exercises usually result in worsening of cosmetic appearance due to the enhancement of the pectoral muscles.

Allow me to ramble:

I would be training as if everything were balanced and seeking with a tuned ear and gleaning mind suggestions from bright and legitimate sources. I would assimilate the ingredients of your yield and apply your own attentive hard work: Posture corrections — on-going and specific, stiff-arm pullovers, bent-arm pullover and press, wide incline flys, extra attention to rear delt exercise to balance the tendency to over-development of the front delt , especially with the condition, deep breathing squats in hopes of expanding the chest/rib cage region  perhaps supersetted with pullovers, as suggested by John Grimek for rib cage expansion.

The exercises might not directly effect the expansion of the high rib cage where the problem apparently originates, but they are good exercises nevertheless, and some drifting logic suggests they will tap those areas needing some tapping. I’d avoid over developing the front delts or pecs,  as again will be the tendency due to muscle mechanics and the practice of favorite exercises. Side arm laterals are okay for side delts. Don’t go heavy on bench presses or dumbbell presses; no declines and lean toward inclines, try press-behind-necks (tough on shoulders– beware) and save the heavy stuff for squats and pulling exercises. Bring in hand-hanging leg-raises and incline leg-raises for abs and torso stretching.

Good to have something to chew on when you’re hungry, even if it’s a blade of grass.

God’s speed… DD