| Upper back pain is far less common than lower back | | | | Massage therapy * Acupuncture The majority of the |
| pain. But it can still be very painful and frustrating. | | | | rehabilitation programs available focus on stretching |
| Usually the cause is some type of muscular irritation. | | | | and strengthening. Since the large muscles in the |
| However, herniated discs or other structural injuries | | | | shoulder area must be targeted when exercising to |
| can also lead to pain in the upper back. Info About | | | | treat the pain. Trigger point therapy can also be |
| the Upper Back Your upper back is sometimes | | | | effective. This method identifies a source of the |
| referred to as the thoracic area. “Thoracic” | | | | upper back pain in a specific tender area, called the |
| means that it pertains to the chest. Unlike the | | | | trigger point. By treating these trigger points, relief |
| cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower | | | | for upper back pain is achieved. Treatments that |
| back), your upper back is not built for much mobility. | | | | uses this concept include massage therapy, chirpractic |
| Instead, it is there mainly for support: to keep us | | | | acupuncture and in extreme cases, trigger point |
| stable as we stand upright and to protect the vital | | | | injections with a local anesthetic. Can You Manage |
| internal organs in the chest. Because of this unique | | | | the Pain Without Surgery Or Prescriptions? Usually |
| design of the upper back, it rarely suffers the risk of | | | | pain in the upper back can be helped with a proper |
| injury or degeneration. But as what has already been | | | | stretching and exercise routine, massage, or trigger |
| shown, upper back pain does occur and the | | | | point therapy. And many of these stretches and |
| symptoms can be as bad as lower back pain. How | | | | exercises can be done on your own. For women, a |
| To Treat Upper Back Pain Most cases of upper back | | | | sports bra can help by providing better support. For |
| pain are receptive to manual treatments, like the | | | | those who spend a lot of time sitting, proper posture |
| ones below. If the pain is due to muscular irritation | | | | often provides relief. Keep your eyes facing forward |
| caused by overuse injuries (such as repetitive | | | | when reading or using a computer. Just remember |
| motions) or de-conditioning (lack of strength), this | | | | not to ignore the problem when the pain goes away, |
| type of upper back pain may be treated by: * | | | | as it is likely to happen again! |
| Exercise and physical therapy * Chiropractic care * | | | | |