Middle Back Pain Treatment
Relief for Pain Between the Shoulder Blades
Pain between your shoulder blades can make it hard to sit at a desk, sleep comfortably, or even take a deep breath. Whether it started recently or has been building for a while, our team is here to help you find relief.
What Is Middle Back Pain?
Middle back pain, sometimes called thoracic back pain, shows up between your shoulder blades in the section of your spine that runs from the base of your neck down to the bottom of your rib cage. This part of the back is less prone to injury than the lower back, but it still affects millions of people, with discomfort ranging from mild to severe.
What Causes Middle Back Pain?
Middle back pain can get in the way of your daily activities, your work, and your overall quality of life. It can come from a number of places, including:
- ✓Strain to the muscles and ligaments that support your spine, often from overuse or injury
- ✓Poor posture or shoulders that slump forward
- ✓Arthritis, as the cartilage covering your joints wears down and bones rub together
- ✓Issues with spinal alignment
More serious causes can include referred pain, such as from a gallbladder attack. Our therapists screen for these kinds of systemic conditions as part of your evaluation.
Another possible cause is thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), which happens when nerves or blood vessels become compressed in the narrow space between your collarbone and first rib. TOS can cause pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm, along with numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.
What Are the Symptoms of Middle Back Pain?
Middle back pain can bring a range of symptoms, including:
- ✓Dull or aching pain
- ✓Sharp or stabbing pain
- ✓Pain that increases with movement or breathing
- ✓Muscle stiffness or tension
- ✓Limited motion
- ✓Numbness or tingling
- ✓Weakness, including in the arms or chest if nerves are affected
- ✓A burning sensation
- ✓Digestive or bladder issues
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if they persist or get worse, it’s time to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
How Is Middle Back Pain Diagnosed?
Because there are so many possible causes, finding the source of your pain takes a thorough look at the full picture. When you visit Big Stone Therapies, you can expect:
- ✓A conversation about your medical history and any past injuries
- ✓A physical exam
- ✓A referral for imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI, if needed
Once we understand what’s driving your pain, we can build a plan to manage it and help prevent it from coming back.
Treatment Options for Middle Back Pain
Your treatment plan depends on what’s causing your symptoms. Physical therapy is often the most effective place to start, and may include:
- ✓Simple exercises to strengthen muscles, correct posture, and improve flexibility
- ✓Manual therapy, including manual traction, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization
- ✓Myofascial release
- ✓Dry needling with electrical stimulation
- ✓Taping
- ✓Nerve or dural glides
- ✓Stretching
- ✓Posture education and strengthening
- ✓Jones strain counterstrain, a technique to ease muscle tension
- ✓Activity reintegration back to work, daily tasks, or sport
We also screen for more serious conditions and, in severe cases, refer you to a physician for further testing and a coordinated care approach.
Depending on your situation, your physician may also discuss other options alongside your therapy plan, such as rest, hot or cold therapy, medication, muscle relaxants, chiropractic adjustments, injections, or, in severe cases, surgery.
How to Prevent Middle Back Pain
As we age, our risk for middle back pain increases. Bones thin, muscle mass decreases, and the fluid between our joints starts to wear down. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to protect your back, including:
- ✓Maintaining a healthy weight
- ✓Practicing good posture
- ✓Strengthening your postural and core muscles
- ✓Stretching your neck and shoulder muscles
- ✓Exercising regularly
- ✓Avoiding long periods of standing or sitting
- ✓Managing other conditions, like arthritis
- ✓Avoiding strenuous lifting or activities that risk injury
- ✓Avoiding smoking, which can impair circulation and contribute to spinal degeneration
Middle back pain can be frustrating, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Our team is here to help you understand what’s going on and get back to feeling like yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pain between the shoulder blades is often a sign of middle back, or thoracic, pain. It can come from muscle strain, poor posture, or arthritis, though more serious causes are also possible, which is why an evaluation is important.
Yes. Physical therapy is often the most effective first step, using exercises, manual therapy, and posture correction to address the root cause of your pain.
If your pain persists, worsens, or comes with numbness, tingling, weakness, or digestive changes, it’s time to see a doctor for a full evaluation.
Contact Us to Get Started
If you have questions or concerns about your middle back pain or any additional symptoms, contact us today to schedule an appointment with our specialists.
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