The development of the regional interdependence model has enabled clinicians to go beyond the biomedical model in evaluating musculoskeletal disorders, linking seemingly unrelated impairments in remote anatomical regions to the patient’s primary complaints. In particular, in the literature a number of studies have focused on the role of postural and mobility deficits of the thoracic spine in the development and in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper quadrant, mostly in relation to cervical pain and shoulder pain. The purpose of this article is to present the available literature on this topic, and discuss the clinical usefulness of thoracic evaluation and treatment.