Upper-Back Pain

The upper thoracic spine is the area of the back that is at the base of the neck down towards the shoulder blades. This is becoming a very common area to have muscle tension and pain. The main muscle in this area that gets very tight and painful is the trapezius muscle.

Symptoms of Upper Back Pain

Tension from base of neck into shoulders

Pain from base of neck into shoulders

Difficulty turning head right or left or difficulty leaning head to right or left side.

Pain radiating down from the base of the neck towards the middle of the back

Tension headaches

Numbness/Tingling into the arms or hands. (The network of nerves in the lower neck and upper back are called the brachial plexus. They travel into the shoulders and down the arms into the hands.)

Causes

The trapezius muscle is a large muscle that goes from the neck out to the shoulders and down to the mid back as you can see in the picture.

This muscle can be irritated if overused. This overuse is common in athletes such as swimmers and in jobs that require a lot of heavy lifting. I have even seen it common in restaurant servers who have to carry large trays every day.

Another cause for upper back pain is poor posture. With the increasing use of technology such as cell phones and computers, a lot of people are spending more and more time looking down. This motion is flexion of the spine and causes added stress to the lower neck and upper back. This added stress can cause muscle tension but can also cause a pinched nerve. When a nerve is pinched, the brain can’t communicate with the muscles as well for them to function like they should. This leads to muscle asymmetry or imbalance.

Treatment Options

Chiropractors are specially trained in treating pinched nerves by locating the problem area and realigning the spine so that the brain and body can communicate well as intended. The communication is done via the nervous system. When the spine is properly aligned, it allows the muscles and ligaments to heal properly as well.

Chiropractors are specially trained in treating pinched nerves by locating the problem area and realigning the spine so that the brain and body can communicate well as intended. The communication is done via the nervous system. When the spine is properly aligned, it allows the muscles and ligaments to heal properly as well.