Introduction
Pain in the upper back is less frequent than pain in the lower back. If back pain is present here, it is very often combined with pain in the neck. The muscles in the upper back have the task of keeping the upper body upright in spite of gravity and are therefore exposed to a strong constant load.
Causes for upper back pain
The most common cause of upper back pain is poor posture, especially the so-called “stop reflex posture”. In the long term, the upper back and neck area are pulled more forwards and upwards, creating a similar picture to that of a hunchback. This causes permanent tension and inappropriate pulling on the muscles of the upper back and neck, which therefore sooner or later start to hurt strongly.
This posture is also often used in special situations, especially when it is very cold, which is why this type of pain is more common in the cold season. But other conditions, such as traumas of the front of the body, sudden loud noises or negative imaginations can also cause this stop pattern, which generally serves as a protective reaction of the body: the raised shoulders and the bent posture protect the head and offer the environment as little surface as possible for “attacks” of any kind. Another reason for back pain in the upper back and shoulder area can be trauma.
These do not necessarily have to precede the back pain directly, but can also go back many years before the back pain occurs. An example of this is whiplash injuries or falling on this part of the back, for example from the swing. The treatment of these pains primarily requires correction of the bad posture, otherwise they can never completely disappear and plague the affected person again and again.
For this purpose, there are special back exercises that loosen up the posture and enable an upright posture. The corresponding muscles should be strengthened, which can be achieved, for example, with the help of a Thera-band or fitness equipment on which one performs a pulling movement from top to bottom. Some massages, yoga or a connective tissue treatment can also relieve back pain.
In general, physiotherapy should only be performed under the professional guidance of a doctor or physiotherapist in order to achieve a good result. Blockages of various vertebrae of the spine occur relatively frequently. In this case, careless movement in the area of the back results in a lifting of one vertebra of the cervical spine and a crooked reattachment to the vertebra below.
Blocking these two vertebral bodies is a mechanical problem and sometimes accompanied by severe pain. Often, neurological complaints such as tingling or numbness are added to the pain, which then usually radiates into the arms. Treatment with tablets or injections is usually unsuccessful, as the pain is based on a mechanical blockage.
With every movement, which for this reason cannot be carried out completely, there is also an accompanying muscle tension at the side of the spine, which in turn leads to an increase in pain. A possible measure that often helps to release a cervical spine blockage is osteopathic treatment. To do this, the osteopath approaches the patient from behind, places the flat hand on the patient’s right and left ear and pulls the patient’s head a little bit higher before bringing it back into the correct position.
When the head is pulled up, the blockage usually releases by itself. If cervical spinal blockages occur repeatedly and lead to back pain, physiotherapeutic treatment should always be carried out as a preventive measure. In any case, it is important to train the muscles in the area of the spine, especially in the area of the cervical spine. Appropriate exercises are carried out by the physiotherapist and are also given to the patient for his own use.
