Upper back pain can occur for a number of different reasons. In some cases, it can be a problem that slowly creeps over the body, often due to poor posture. It can happen because of strain, or because of some type of sudden injury, such as a car accident. Many people who sit at computers all day find that they start to develop back pain. Their posture ends up terrible by the end of the day, as they are all hunched over the keyboard and typing away like a modern day Quasimodo. Often, neck and shoulder pain accompany this.
Types of Upper Back Pain
Muscular irritation and joint dysfunction are the common causes. When it comes to muscular irritation, it’s generally due to things such as a lack of strength from being out of shape, or it can come from repetitive motion injuries. For example, if you stock shelves, the repetition of putting cans on shelves above your head could cause issues with parts of the upper back. Muscle strains, injuries from sports, accidents, and more can cause muscular irritation.
You can do several things to remedy this type of problem. First, you need to start taking better care of your back by improving your posture and being aware of how you are moving. In addition, exercise, along with acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care can help immensely.
Joint dysfunction could also result in upper back pain. This is an issue with the joints that connect the ribs to the side of the spine. The best ways to deal with this type of pain is with manual manipulation from a chiropractor. In addition, it’s a good idea to have a home exercise program that helps to stretch the spine and shoulders. Strengthening the back and aerobic conditioning are helpful as well. Those who are in severe amounts of pain may also need to have pain medication. However, taking a holistic healing approach is a better overall idea in most cases.
Some Other Potential Causes of Upper Back Pain
In some rare cases, there could be disc herniations, instability of the spine, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. However, the upper back tends to be more stable than the lower back, and these instances are rare. Most of those types of injuries occur in the lumbar spine region as it is prone to more movement, and therefore more injury.
What If You Have Back Pain?
No one likes the idea of living with back pain whether it is a minor, dull ache or pain that’s unbearable. When you are experiencing any type of pain in the back, it’s a good idea to set up an appointment with a chiropractor. He or she can examine you and help you find the source of the problem. The chiropractor can also provide help for immediate pain relief, as well as tips for improving your overall back health. Issues with the back should never be ignored. It could just be the beginning of other health problems.