Middle to Upper Back Pain

Middle to upper back pain (or thoracic back pain) covers the area running from the base of the neck to the bottom of the ribcage.

Symptoms of Middle to Upper Back Pain

It is common in people of all ages, including children and adolescents, and it occurs when part of the spine becomes inflamed or irritated.

Middle to upper back problems can also be evident in the chest and whilst breathing due to the fact that the ribs and the diaphragm muscle connect with the thoracic area.

There is also a close connection with the neck and shoulders meaning that an issue with the mid to upper back can also have an impact on these areas of the body or vice versa.

Causes of Middle to Upper Back Pain

Many cases of middle to upper back pain (or “upper backache”) can be caused by repetitive motions (through work or sport), using a heavy back pack, poor posture, heavy lifting or sitting at a computer for long periods of time.

However, middle to upper back pain can also sometimes be caused by more serious issues such as trauma or sudden injury.

All of these things can result in a build-up of stress within the postural muscles, spinal joints, discs, ligaments and tendons in this area of the back.

How can Osteopathy help?

Osteopathy is recognised by the NHS and NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as an effective treatment for back pain. Treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain and mobilise your joints.

At Active Healthcare Clinic, we will spend time trying to understand your problem and putting together a back pain treatment plan for you. We may also provide you with advice on middle to upper back exercises that you can do at home (where appropriate) to ease your back pain symptoms.