Many people suffer from upper back pain on a day-to-day basis. Upper back pain can result from an injury, joint dysfunction, or muscular irritation, but there are still more causes. Even in cases where it seems obvious such as an injury from a fall, upper back pain can remain elusive due to other reasons.
While there are many pain management methods to deal with upper back pain, such as using pain killers or massage therapy, knowing the root cause of the pain is the most important thing so that you know how to deal with it. That said, let’s look at some common causes of upper back pain.
Poor posture
One of the common causes of upper back pain is poor posture leading to structural changes in the back and neck. Living a sedentary lifestyle or sitting down crouching on the computer for long hours regularly can lead to poor posture problems. What happens is that the back muscles become deconditioned and weak and cannot hold the spine in neutral alignment like before.
When the head and upper back hunch forward, more pressure applies to the spine muscles, bones, ligaments, discs, and other soft tissues. Another case is when you routinely lean towards one side when driving or doing other activities. Poor posture causes imbalance to the upper back leading to back pain.
Accident
Another cause of upper back pain is an injury resulting from an accident such as a vehicle collision, bike crash, sports accident, or fall. The trauma from the accident can injure the spinal bones, muscles, discs, ligaments, nerves, or any other soft tissue leading to upper back pain. This kind of pain can be very severe due to the impact, so it is best to seek a holistic pain management approach.
Improper lifting technique
Did you know that lifting a heavy object without keeping the spine aligned can lead to upper back pain? Also, holding heavy items above the head, such as weight lifts, especially more towards the left or right, without keeping them centered can lead to upper back pain. Avoid lifting heavy things, and if you must, use the proper lifting technique. Avoid leaning towards one side when lifting heavy objects.
Straining the upper back
Putting your back to more work than usual can lead to muscle sprain, inflammation, ligament strains, and other problems in the upper back. It is best to ask for help when you have too much work, such as working on a ceiling or moving things to a new apartment.
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Compression fractures
A vertebrae bone can weaken over time and not be able to support the weight above it, leading to a compression fracture. This problem is most common in older adults, and it causes the vertebrae to form a wedge shape. It can also cause posture changes and get more painful if not addressed early.
The bottom line
Upper back pain can result from one cause or a combination of different causes. It helps to understand the source of the pain to identify the best treatment approach. Also, it is best to seek upper back pain treatment early before it gets out of hand.
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