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Upper Back Pain Treatment

Upper back pain can be particularly troublesome. Although lower back pain is more common, the upper back – or thoracic spine – provides stability to the torso and a base for the rib cage. Thus, an injury or other spinal condition in this location can cause considerable distress. When pain occurs in the upper back, treatment focuses on regaining mobility, while also managing pain and rehabilitating any injury.

Many people neglect the upper back muscles when exercising – a frequent occurrence among some weight lifters who focus on the pectoral and abdominal muscles for vanity reasons. Such unbalanced exercise can lead to an imbalance in musculature – in other words, the back may be weaker than the abdomen and the chest, which may cause distortions in one’s posture, as well as increase the risk of back injury due to the lack of consistent support for the spine.

Muscles of the Upper Back

The key muscles in the upper back are:

• Trapezius – A large, vaguely diamond-shaped muscle that extends vertically from the back of the skull to the lower part of the thoracic spine and horizontally from one shoulder blade to the other.
• Latissimus Dorsi – A large, flat muscle that extends from the lower (lumbar) spine to the side of the rib cage on both sides of the torso.
• Rhomboids – Two rhombus-shaped muscles (the rhomboid major and minor) extending from the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine to the shoulder blade.
• Levator Scapulae – These muscles extend from the upper cervical spine to the top of the shoulder blades and lie along the sides of the neck.

These muscles are crucial to spinal support. Thus, one of the most important things to do when seeking upper back pain treatment is to exercise these (and other) muscles.?

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Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.