In the framework of the asymptotic analysis of thin structures, we prove that, up to an extraction, it is possible to decompose a sequence of 'scaled gradients' (del(alpha)u(epsilon)vertical bar(1)/(epsilon)del(beta)u(epsilon)) (where is the gradient in the k-dimensional 'thin variable' x(beta)) bounded in L-p (Omega:R-mxn(1 < p < + infinity) as a sum of a sequence (del(alpha)v(epsilon)vertical bar(1)/(epsilon)del(beta)nu(epsilon)) whose p-th power is equi-integrable on Omega and a 'rest' that converges to zero in measure. In particular, for k = 1 we recover a well-known result for thin films by Bocea and Fonseca (ESAIM: COCV 7:443-470; 2002).