Upper Back Pain Treatment
Back pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit their doctor for. Unfortunately, back pain is something that most people will suffer from in their lifetime.
Causes of Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain is most often caused due to posture related issues or as a result of strain or overuse. However, there are other causes of upper back pain such as:
- Poor Posture
- Overuse or Strain Injury
- Herniated Disc
- Bone fracture of the upper spine
Symptoms of Upper Back Pain
Common symptoms of upper back pain include:
- Muscle tightness
- Stiffness of the upper back area
- Sharp or dull pain of the area
The above symptoms may come and go throughout the day and may be most prevalent first thing in the morning or from being sedentary.
How Physical Therapy Can Help With Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain, in most cases, can be successfully treated with physical therapy.
Depending on the cause of your back pain, treatment may differ. Your physical therapist will perform a full body evaluation to pin point what the cause of your upper back pain is.
Once the cause of pain is determined, your PT will create a customized treatment plan that will reduce your pain and give you tools to prevent it from coming back in the future.
Your physical therapist may utilize the following in your treatment program:
Manual therapy used as both an assessment tool and a treatment technique. After pinpointing any misalignments, your physical therapist will release any restrictions in the muscles using specific, hands-on techniques including soft tissue and joint mobilizations and direct manipulations to specific areas.
Movement Assessment to analyze the ways in which your body rotates, flexes, and moves throughout specific postures. They’ll assess overall spinal endurance and strength to understand how your body is able to maintain postural alignment and to pinpoint any areas of weakness.
Strength and Postural Training to correct maladaptive posturing and aid in the development of better spine alignment. They’ll take into account your daily habits and physical activities to design a treatment plan based on your specific body and goals.
Physical therapists can provide the necessary tools to prevent and treat your upper back pain by improving your posture, allowing you to feel pain free again. To learn more about upper back pain prevention and treatment, schedule an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
