Upper back pain is far less common than lower back pain. But it can still be very painful and frustrating. Usually the cause is some type of muscular irritation. However, herniated discs or other structural injuries can also lead to pain in the upper back.

Info About the Upper Back

Your upper back is sometimes referred to as the thoracic area. "Thoracic" means that it pertains to the chest. Unlike the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back), your upper back is not built for much mobility. Instead, it is there mainly for support: to keep us stable as we stand upright and to protect the vital internal organs in the chest.

Because of this unique design of the upper back, it rarely suffers the risk of injury or degeneration. But as what has already been shown, upper back pain does occur and the symptoms can be as bad as lower back pain.

How To Treat Upper Back Pain

Most cases of upper back pain are receptive to manual treatments, like the ones below. If the pain is due to muscular irritation caused by overuse injuries (such as repetitive motions) or de-conditioning (lack of strength), this type of upper back pain may be treated by:

• Exercise and physical therapy

• Chiropractic care

• Massage therapy

• Acupuncture

The majority of the rehabilitation programs available focus on stretching and strengthening. Since the large muscles in the shoulder area must be targeted when exercising to treat the pain.

Trigger point therapy can also be effective. This method identifies a source of the upper back pain in a specific tender area, called the trigger point. By treating these trigger points, relief for upper back pain is achieved. Treatments that uses this concept include massage therapy, chirpractic/acupuncture and in extreme cases, trigger point injections with a local anesthetic.

Can You Manage the Pain Without Surgery Or Prescriptions?

Usually pain in the upper back can be helped with a proper stretching and exercise routine, massage, or trigger point therapy. And many of these stretches and exercises can be done on your own. For women, a sports bra can help by providing better support.

For those who spend a lot of time sitting, proper posture often provides relief. Keep your eyes facing forward when reading or using a computer.

Just remember not to ignore the problem when the pain goes away, as it is likely to happen again!