Upper Back Pain Relief – How?

Upper back pain may be due to musculoskeletal or underlying organic conditions. Many people hold there stress and tension in their shoulders, or Trapezius muscle and exhibit a rounded stooped posture to alleviate pain from their contracted Rhomboids muscle. Anterior head carriage classically goes with internally rotated shoulders and sets the patient up for pain, discomfort, and abnormal posture. Upper back pain may also be due to an organic condition, such as gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease can refer pain to the right shoulder mimicking a musculoskeletal condition. This can cause a mis-diagnosis of a painful and possibly serious medical condition that may require surgery. Proper case history and examination are necessary to make the correct diagnosis in order to implement treatment.

Upper back pain relief may be sought from chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists alike. Chiropractors align mis-aligned vertebra and restore proper nerve flow to organs and body systems, and decrease muscle spasms and hypertonicity. Chiropractic philosophy states this allows the body’s own innate intelligence to heal the body from within without the use of any pharmaceuticals. Physical therapists utilize exercises, electrical stimulation machines, and ultrasound to increase range of motion, decrease spasticity and hypertonicity, and re-educate muscles. Massage therapists provide the same effects by utilizing massage therapy techniques tailored to the individual patient. These techniques include effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, roulement, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and cross friction massage. Applications of ice or heat may be administered depending on the desired effect and the extent of the condition being treated. Upper back pain is a very treatable condition that can be treated in a variety of ways; all have their place in health care and offer similar effects.