Question
A 6-year-old child is experiencing pigeon chest symptoms and is inquiring about the treatment methods.
Answer
Mild pigeon chest may improve naturally with physical growth. It is recommended to engage in physical exercises such as chest expansion and supine sit-ups, twice or three times a day, to accelerate correction. Generally, mild pigeon chest has little impact on cardiovascular function, and surgery for pigeon chest at this stage is not very effective. For males, exercising the pectoralis major muscle during puberty can improve the appearance; for females, breast development after puberty can also help compensate for the appearance of the sternum deformity. Unless it is a severe deformity, it is generally not recommended to undergo surgical treatment.