Subscribe Feed (RSS)Got upper back pain? You’re not alone, according recent medical studies, more than a million Americans complain of some sort of recurring back pain over the course of any given year.
Back pain is generally felt in the area between the base of the neck and the top of your lumbar spine. Upper back pain can have a number of causes, such as a sudden injury or trauma, continued poor posture over the years or continued strain over a long period of time. Complaints of upper back pain have become more prevalent over the years as the population has become more sedentary, and more jobs involve sitting for hours in front of a computer monitor.
Upper back pain can have more serious causes that may possibly point to serious illness. More critical causes of upper back pain can include a ruptured spinal disc or the disease osteoporosis. Osteoporosis cause the bones to become very fragile, making it extremely easy to shatter vertebrae, even from only the weight of your spine. Also, upper back pain can be a symptom of heart disease.
There are a variety of things that can treat upper back pain, and the method you use should depend upon the circumstances of your upper back pain.
If your back pain is caused by mechanical strain or poor posture, there’s a variety of exercise and massage options that can help. About a minute of self-massage in problem areas can greatly alleviate pain. You can also relieve upper back pain by having some on press their elbow into your trapezius muscle for about 15 to 30 seconds. This slows blood flow to the area briefly and then releases it in a rush, and can greatly alleviate spasms.
Preventative care can greatly reduce your chances of experiencing upper back pain. Regular exercise with activities that work out upper body muscles can give you the strength and muscle tone which will allow your body to endure continuous strain or injury that may result in upper back pain. Good conditioning is one of the tenants of modern sports medicine, as a well conditioned body is naturally more resistant to injury and can cope better with repeated stressful physical activity. Chances are that if it’s good enough for the NFL, it’s good enough for you.
There’s also a variety of commonsense things you can do to alleviate back pain. For starters, sit up. As mentioned before, bad posture can contribute to upper back pain and damage the spine. By having good posture, you can avoid these problems. Another good tip is to hold the phone when you’re using it. Cradling it with your neck can cause upper back pain.
If you’re not sure why you’re experiencing upper back pain, consult a doctor. As mentioned before, upper back pain can be a warning sign of a more serious problem such as heart disease or osteoporosis. The earlier these illnesses are diagnosed and treated, the better your chance is that they won’t impact your quality of life. Some medical treatments for upper back pain include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, surgery in serious cases, and chiropractic methods of pain relief.
