Though not as common as lower back pain, upper back pain affects many people. The upper back is made up of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae. These vertebrae are connected with nine of the twelve rib bones. Perpendicular to the thoracic spine is the breastbone. The breastbone is also connected to the rib bones. The breastbone, ribs, and thoracic spine make up the thoracic cage. Thoracic means "chest" and this chest cage protects all the organs of the upper body. The lowest three ribs do not attach to the breastbone or make up the thoracic cage though they do provide some protection to organs while also allowing mobility.

Upper back pain, though rare, does occur. This article will explain the causes and treatment of upper back pain.

Causes of Upper Back Pain

The thoracic spine exists to stabilize the body and protect its organs. It is stronger than the cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (lower back). The cervical and lumbar spines are made to help the body move and flex. The thoracic spine is made to be strong and stable. For this reason, injuries are much more commonly seen in the cervical and lumbar spinal regions. However, there are two main causes of upper back pain, or thoracic spine pain: myofascial pain and joint dysfunctional pain.

Myofascial pain - This is muscular irritation brought about by muscle strains that can occur from sports activities, over or underuse of a muscle, or sudden movements such as being thrown forward in an automobile accident. This usually affects the large muscles supporting the shoulder blades.

Joint dysfunction - This is a malfunction of the two joints that connect each rib to the thoracic spine. Ribs are connected to the spine on either side by joints. An injury to one or both joints can cause them to lose function and can cause upper back pain.

Treatment of Upper Back Pain

Myofascial pain is best treated with deep tissue massage, chiropractic manipulation of the spine, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Stretching and strengthening of the shoulder muscles is key in developing strength of the upper back.

Joint dysfunction is best treated by chiropractic manipulation, aerobic exercise, medication to relieve pain, and steroid injections at target sites of pain if necessary.

The best health care professionals to see to help assess and treat both causes of upper back pain are pain management specialists, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, and chiropractors.