Thoracic spine pain, also referred to as upper back pain, is a problem that is prevalent in modern society whereby millions of people are reported to be suffering from the condition. This type of pain is felt in the area between the neck and the upper thighs; it affects muscles, ligaments and joints at the rib cage and spinal column. Even though it is less frequent compared to lower back or neck pain, upper back pains can interfere with some of the most basic everyday tasks and reduce the person’s overall well-being.
Upper back pain can be a mild discomfort that one can easily ignore and even severe pain that one cannot even bend or twist. They include postural abnormalities, muscle overuse, and systemic diseases, among others. Knowledge of the possible cause, symptoms, and the right treatment of upper back pain is important especially for intervention and prevention and this is where Spine Mantra physiotherapy services come in.
Who gets upper back pain?
It is not rare for people of any age to experience upper back pain but most often it is observed with those individuals who sit for a large proportion of their work time or simply do not exercise. Research shows that it is normal for 20% of adults to develop some level of upper back ache at one point in their lifetime and this rate is likely to go up as a result of poor posture and long hours on screen. Physical shock such as from impact sports, long high intensity physical tasks such as lifting, and people with preexisting spine disorders are also more susceptible.
Cause
- Poor Posture: Sitting awkwardly at the desks, computers, or over the phones put pressure on the upper back muscles resulting in pain.
- Muscle Strain: Repetitive movements which involve contraction of muscles may lead to stress and pain in the upper back such as when lifting weights.
- Injury or Trauma: Injuries to the back are usually as a result of an accident or fall or any other unexpected force that might be exerted on the spinal column muscles or ligaments, thus resulting in upper back pain.
- Herniated Disc: While not as frequent within the upper region of the back, it is still possible to get a herniated disc that puts pressure on nerves and experiences pain.
- Arthritis: Other diseases such as osteoarthritis are characterized by the degenerative changes that may occur at the thoracic spine resulting in inflammation and pain.
Scoliosis: Scoliosis causes the uneven distribution of forces on the muscles and joints as it is a curved spine, and thus leads to upper back pain.
Symptoms of Upper Back Pain
- Muscle Stiffness: Possibly painful and restricts one’s range of motion, stiffness of the upper back muscles is another complaint that many people have.
- Sharp or Dull Pain: It can also be localized and localized at all times or only during certain movements; it can be a sting like sensation or a moderate throbbing pain.
- Muscle Tightness or Spasms: Such discomforts include muscle tension and spasms in the upper back region, which makes it hard to move effortlessly.
- Numbness or Tingling: At times symptoms of nerve compression in the upper back extending to the arms or hands may present as a feeling of numbness or sensation of tingling.
Difficulty Breathing: Upper back pain is not very pleasant, particularly if the pain originates from rib joint pain since they interfere with deep breathing.
Treatment
- Manual Therapy: Manual therapies including physical mobilization of muscles and ligaments and manipulation of the joints decrease pain, enhance the degree of movement and function.
- Exercise Therapy: The specific exercises involve strengthening specific groups of muscles in the back, which in addition to enhancing the spine flexibility and the general posture are significant when it comes to preventing it.
- Postural Training: Particularly, posture correction through physiotherapy sessions is one of the effective ways to offload the upper back muscles which \in turn considerably decreases pain.
- Stretching Routines: Certain stretching procedures make muscle stiffness less pronounced, improve the flexibility and provide a calm to the upper extremity of the back.
- Heat and Cold Therapy: It is recommended that one applies heat then follow it by a cold treatment in order to ease inflammation, muscle tension, and pain.
- Ergonomic Advice: Tips on posture, proper work environment, how to lift objects and proper upper back exercises for daily tasks can assist the patients in preventing worsening of their pain.
Diagnosis
- Physical Examination: The physical exam involving the assessment of the spine’s alignment, posture and active motion for tenderness and limitations.
- Medical History Review: It includes going through reasons of the affected person’s complaints, his or her way of life, and beyond injuries or ailments.
- Postural Assessment: Assessment of the patient’s posture to find out if any of them may also have contributed to the condition of higher back pain.
- Functional Movement Testing: Applying particular moves that would provoke pain, deciding the actions that may help patients to avoid discomfort.
- Imaging Referrals: In some cases, suggest patients to get X-rays or MRIs performed in order to exclude various gravely pathologies such as fractures or disc herniation.
Dorsalgia is another condition that has been described to affect the quality of a person’s comfortable movements in executing routine activities. The knowledge of the causes, the manifestations, the therapeutically related illnesses, and the treatments required is something that you ought to know when dealing with this disease. At Spine Mantra, our assessment and treatment plan is based on physiotherapy which majorly deals with painless and functional exercises that are tailored for the individual along with hand-on physiotherapy and ergonomic assessment. At Spine Mantra, we tackle the source of upper back pain thereby enabling patients to get back on their feet and continue with their activities.
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FAQ
Spine Mantra specializes in providing comprehensive treatment for a myriad of spine-related conditions. Whether you're dealing with chronic back pain, sciatica, spondylitis, or various other spinal issues, our experienced team of professionals is dedicated to addressing your specific needs through both online and offline therapy services.
Our online therapy services at Spine Mantra leverage cutting-edge technology to offer virtual consultations with our highly skilled medical professionals. Through these virtual sessions, we aim to provide you with the same level of expert guidance and care as you would receive during an in-person visit, all from the comfort of your own home.
Offline therapy involves hands-on, in-person sessions conducted at our clinic, allowing for direct physical interaction between our specialists and patients. On the other hand, online therapy utilizes virtual consultations and guided exercises to deliver effective treatment remotely, providing a convenient alternative for those unable to visit our clinic in person.
Yes, online therapy at Spine Mantra includes a comprehensive assessment process that enables our specialists to provide accurate diagnoses. This involves a thorough examination of your symptoms, medical history, and virtual evaluations to create personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific condition.
Absolutely. We've designed our online therapy services to be just as effective as in-person sessions. Through virtual consultations, personalized exercise plans, and ongoing guidance, we ensure that you receive the same level of expertise and care regardless of your physical location.
Scheduling an online therapy session is easy and convenient. You can book your virtual consultation through our user-friendly website or by contacting our clinic directly. We offer flexible appointment times to accommodate your schedule.
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