Causes of Upper Back Pain

Pain in the upper back can originate as a consequence of poor posture or strain over considerably long periods of time, or because of trauma or injury. Pain in the upper back is often accompanied by shoulder and/ or neck pain.  

To understand the causes of pain in the upper back, it is important to know a little about the anatomy of the upper back. Upper back pain is also called thoracic pain as the thoracic spine comprises of the upper spine portion corresponding to the chest area. The upper spine includes a total of 12 vertebrae. Upper back pain is felt between the bottom region of the neck and the top of the lumbar spine. 

Pain in upper back is caused usually because of one or both of the following medical conditions: 

·    Joint dysfunction 

·    Muscular irritation or myofascial pain 

Myofascial pain 

The shoulder girdle and the scapula are attached to the back of the thoracic rib cage by large muscles. These strong upper back muscles are susceptible to developing pain. This irritation can interfere with daily activities and can be discomforting and painful. Pain can arise because of two reasons: it can be due to the over use of muscles as a result of repetitive activities, or because of gradual deconditioning of muscles, whereby the strength is lost. Injuries from playing sports, accidents, muscular strains, or other types of injuries are the main sources of such upper back pain.  

Joint dysfunction 

There are two joints that connect the ribs and the thoracic spine vertebrae. When there is a dysfunction in one or both  of these joints, it can cause pain in the upper back. Manual forms of manipulation including osteopathy, chiropractic treatments, or physical therapies are the commonly prescribed pain relief measures for this form of upper back pain.