Habits, conditions and injuries that cause upper back pain

Upper back pain may not be as common as lower back pain, but it is just serious to those who suffer from it. Upper back pain can be classified as any pain that occurs along the spine or in the muscles of your back between the bottom of your neck and the bottom of your rib cage. 

Upper back pain affects people in different ways. Many people experience a burning pain and stiffness in the back when something affects this area, but your pain may also be dull and achy depending on the cause.

Common causes of upper back pain

Upper back pain can be related to a number of conditions or injuries, including:

• Poor posture — Poor posture is first on the list because it is the leading cause of upper back pain in most adults in America. It’s usually related to prolonged periods of sitting and hunching over. When you hunch over, you increase strain on the muscles, which leads to them growing weaker or more tired, which increases strain on the spine.
• Strained muscles — Sitting isn’t the only activity that can affect the muscles in your upper back. Overexertion during physical activities like work or sports can strain the muscles. This is often related to improper lifting techniques, such as holding heavy objects over the head or bending at the waist to pick something up off the ground.
• Herniated disc — A herniated disc is a disc in your spine between the vertebrae that has burst, which causes the fluid it contains to put pressure on the nerves in your spine. In some cases, multiple discs can herniate, which causes more pain and limited mobility.
• Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your bones to degrade, which, in your spine, causes pain in the vertebrae. As a result, bone spurs may develop that put pressure on nerves in your spinal canal.
• Traumatic injury — A direct impact to the spine or an injury that causes you to jerk around can cause pain in the spine, muscles and soft tissue in your upper back. These kinds of injuries are likely to occur in automobile accidents and full-contact sports like football, rugby or hockey. 

Visit Advent Physical Therapy for upper back pain treatment

No matter the cause, pain in your upper back can limit your ability to enjoy your life to its fullest. At Advent Physical Therapy, we can help you in the process to overcome your pain and return to your normal life. Contact our team today for more information about upper back pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.