Most people who work with computers are the ones at high risk with upper back pain. Most of the time upper back pain happens with shoulder or neck pain. Since more and more people are working with computers, upper back pain is fast becoming a common complaint nowadays. So what causes upper back pain?
Upper Back Pain Causes
Muscular Irritation or Myofascial pain
The huge muscle in the upper back where the shoulder girdle and shoulder blade is attached is prone to irritation which can be very painful. Most of the time upper back pain and muscular irritation is due to lack of strength or injuries due to repetitive motions. Injuries from accidents, sports and even muscle strains can result to terrible pain from muscular irritation.
Treatment for such upper back pain may include Chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, massage therapy and exercise. Since this include the large muscles in the shoulder area, most treatment programs will consist of strengthening and stretching exercise.
This manual type therapies mentioned above and a few physiologic therapeutic methods like laser therapy, TENS, acupuncture and magnet therapy have evidentiary support for treatment of Myofascial pain syndrome (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2009).
Specialist like physiatrist or physical medicine, osteopathic physician, chiropractor and rehabilitation physician will be the best one to seek or consult for treatment of chronic upper back pain.
Joint Dysfunction
The ribs is connected to the vertebrae in the thoracic spine by two joints. These joints when function abnormally can result to upper back pain. Treatment may include a home exercise program which consist of stretching and strengthening the spine and shoulders. Manual manipulation is good too but this has to be perform by physical therapist, chiropractor or osteopathic physician trained in manipulation. Aerobic is another way of reducing upper back pain. Pain relievers can aid in reducing upper back pain and the best medication so far are anti-inflammatory medications.
Since little motion is present in the thoracic spine thus disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis is very rare to occur. However injury or trauma to the spine can lead to fracture in the thoracic bone, if this is the case then you need to consult a physician immediately so that proper diagnostic test should be done to see the extent of the injury and made a treatment plan.