Mid-Back Pain
That nagging ache between the shoulder blades that builds through the working day. Let us find out where it is coming from.
Understanding Mid-Back Pain
Mid-back pain sits in the thoracic spine, the section between the base of your neck and the bottom of your ribcage. People usually describe it as a deep ache between the shoulder blades, a sharp catch when they twist or take a deep breath, or a band of tightness across the upper back that builds through the day.
The thoracic spine is connected to your ribs, so there are a lot of small joints in this area. When some of them get stiff, the muscles around them tighten up to compensate. Long hours at a desk or on a phone, driving, heavy lifting, sleeping awkwardly and sports with a lot of twisting, like golf, tennis and paddling, are common triggers.
Mid-back pain is usually mechanical, but not always. Pain in the chest or upper back can occasionally come from the heart, lungs or other organs. If your pain comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, unexplained weight loss, or it's worse at night and not affected by movement, see your GP or call 000 first.
Common symptoms
- Aching or burning between the shoulder blades
- A sharp catch when twisting, reaching or taking a deep breath
- Tightness across the upper or mid-back that builds through the day
- Stiffness when turning or rotating your upper body
- Mid-back pain linked to desk work, driving or screen time
- Pain that came on after lifting, sport or sleeping awkwardly
How chiropractic may help
We assess how your mid-back, ribs, neck and shoulders are moving, and look at your posture and the positions you spend most of your day in. Care may include adjusting of stiff spinal and rib joints, soft tissue work for the muscles between and around the shoulder blades, and mobility and strengthening exercises to help your upper back move and hold you up better. We'll also suggest small changes to your desk or daily routine that may take some load off. Results vary between individuals.
What to expect at Banora Chiropractic
Your first visit starts with questions about where the pain is, how it started, and what makes it better or worse, along with some general health questions to rule out non-mechanical causes. We then examine your spine, ribs and posture. We'll explain what we find in plain language and outline a plan. If anything suggests the pain isn't coming from your spine or muscles, we'll refer you to your GP.
Get Help With Mid-Back Pain
Book an assessment and let us help you understand what is going on.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mid-Back Pain
Mid-Back Pain care near you
Our clinic is at 2/44 Greenway Drive, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486. We see patients from across the Tweed Coast and southern Gold Coast, including:
Struggling with mid-back pain?
You do not have to just put up with it. Book an assessment and let us help you understand your options.
