Upper Back Treatments

Myofascial pain syndrome is where the muscles or soft tissues of the back generate pain. This happens commonly with poor posture, possibly from prolonged computer use or driving or with overuse of the tissues. Overuse typically presents with taut and tender bands within the muscles and in the upper back this may cause the shoulders to be held in a hunched posture. Pressures from the stresses of everyday living can be enough to trigger this in some people.

Chiropractic management of muscle pain in the mid and upper back revolves around returning the normal length and tension to the muscles. This is likely to involve a combination of work directly with the involved muscle such as massage and stretching, together with treatment or advice aimed at helping the underlying cause.   Frequently simple stretching and postural exercises are all that is needed to keep these pains settled. If the problem is due to another back problem chiropractors will look to address this at the same time.

Rib head pain comes when the junction of a rib with the spine is twisted or displaced causing one of the supporting ligaments to be placed under undue strain. This can be a severe pain that is felt either locally next to the spine, as a band running round the rib or occasionally as a lancing pain felt at the back and again at the front where the rib joins onto the breast bone. Rib pain is aggravated by twisting and bending, as well as on taking a deep breath. It is frequently associated with intercostal muscle pain. Here spasm of the muscles between the ribs causes a deep aching band of pain.

Spinal joint pain usually from the small ‘facet joints’ at the back of the spine is the most common cause of upper back pain diagnosed by chiropractors. Here tightness or displacement of the joints causes local pain and altered spinal posture. This causes muscles to tighten to balance the back and secondary muscular pain.

Chiropractic treatment for rib head or spinal joint pain is to identify the joint or joints involved and free them with a specific manipulation. It is the precision of this thrust onto just the identified joints at precise angles that chiropractors believe is responsible for the high success rates they have with these problems. Adjunctive therapies such as massage, ultrasound or acupuncture may also be used together with rehabilitative exercises.

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© February, 2008 - Back2Health Group