Upper Back Pain – Causes and Treatment
It is true that the majority of people suffer from lower back pain, but it is also true that the number of people suffering from upper back pain is increasing rapidly.
There are several causes for this problem.
1. Stressful life
People sit in the chairs for longer hours due to the increased pressure of work. They can spare less time for rest and relaxation. This leads to higher pressure on the upper back. The muscles and joints located here are small and delicate. They cannot withstand the long and sustained pressure. Therefore, they become tight and cause pain.
2. Pressure of the head
Our head is the heaviest part of the body and the upper back has to carry its weight all the time. When a person sits to work, he tends to bend his head forward. This, in turn, causes huge pressure on it. It also reduces the supply of blood to the muscles which become weak and tight. They, therefore, get easily tired and cause pain.
3. Dysfunction of the joints
Our spinal cord consists of several small bones. Extra pressure on the joints causes discomfort and prevents them from working smoothly.
4. Pressure upon soft tissues
The soft tissues in the spinal cord play an important role. They hold the vertebrae together and make it flexible. Overuse of this area due to increased amount of work especially on computers tires and stiffens the soft tissues and results in injury and pain.
5. The effect of the lower back
When we walk we not only move our legs and arms, we also move our spinal cord, which is spread across both the upper and lower parts of the back. It means that the joints and muscles of both the lower and the upper back work together. Therefore, when the joints and muscles of the lower back get tired they affect the upper back also.
Treatment
It is recommended that when you treat the upper back pain, you must address the tension and imbalance in the lower back also in order to ensure a complete treatment.
The best way to treat the problem is to do some stretching exercises regularly and keep the right posture. You may also take over-the-counter muscle relaxants and pain killers.
You should consult a specialist if the pain does not respond to conventional methods of treatment.
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