Upper back pain

Although not as common as lower back pain (lumbar vertebrae) or neck pain (cervical vertebrae), upper back pain (thoracic vertebrae) can equally be uncomfortable and distressing. .Unlike pain in the lumbar or cervical region, which is caused by disc degeneration and herniation, pain in the thoracic region is mostly due to muscles tendons and ligaments sprain or strain brought about by overuse or misuse.  The complaint is mostly of the back feeling tight and sore to touch.

Causes:

Sufferers frequently complain that the pain in the upper back developed for no apparent reason but careful review of preceding event will often show an identifiable cause

Poor posture: This is the leading cause of upper backpain.  Many office workershave fallen into the bad habit of spending their work dayshunched forward with rounded shoulderswhich can strain the muscles of the upper back.

Carrying heavy backpack:An overly loaded backpack or not wearing the backpack correctly (e.g., just using one strap) is dangerous to the spine. This bad habit, usually started off as kids, can lead to upper back injuriesthat will be nursed well into adult hood.

Othercauses could include improper lifting techniques, being overweight, smoking or direct blows or tackle during sporting activities.Spinal problems like fractures, problematic kyphosis or scoliosis can cause muscle fatigue and sprain in other structures and also affect the spinal nerves.

Treating Upper Back pain

Most cases of upper back are not serious and will respond to simple treatments. However it is best to consult your Physiotherapist who will take your through a slow gradual period of rehabilitation to prevent re-injury.  When the pain develops suddenly or is related to direct trauma, stop all strenuous activities to prevent aggravation of injury or increasing the damage.  A good first aid to remember is the application of ice on the painful muscle. The ice should be wrapped in a towel and apply to injury as soon as possible for approximately 20 mins every 2-3 hours for the first 48 to 72hours.  Under most circumstances, ice will reduce swelling and can even accelerate your healing. In certain instances an x-ray or MRI might be required to rule out anything sinister.

Your therapy should include a passive and active session. The passive session is to help you relax and help your body heal with modalities like the ultra sound, heat and cold therapy TENS, and deep tissue massage.  Your active sessions will involve therapeutic exercisespersonalized for you after taking into consideration your health history.  These exercises should be done on a regular basis and  will strengthen your body, improve your flexibility, strength, core stability, and range of motion and help prevent a recurrence of upper back pain.  If you feel any irritation or more pain please stop and notify your therapist straight away.

Finally, your therapist will work with you to correct your posture especially when sitting at your desk in the office.  She may also suggest an exercise program involving cardio and strength training which can reduce the likelihood of another upper back pain episode and of course, improve your overall health.

Nkiru Jibuaku is a British trained Physiotherapist. She currently works as a Senior Physiotherapist in Lagos and can be reached on  [email protected]