An epidemic is quickly growing—but few are aware that it is a common experience. Mid back pain affects more and more people each year. It is the second leading cause of missed workdays, and costs related to the problem exceed sixty billion dollars in the United States alone.

Despite the common nature of this problem, it continues to lurk under the radar and is usually one of the last things to be considered by doctors and patients alike. It is important to know more about mid back pain in order to bring it to the forefront of people’s minds.

Counting The Causes

Usually, mid back pain occurs as the result of damage to the ligaments and muscles of the thoracic spine. The factors encompassed by this description are part of every day life. Consequently, mid back pain is often seen as an inevitable part of aging and living life.

The factors that directly or indirectly lead to mid back pain that people do in their everyday routine include: smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, poor posture, excessive torsal motions, improper lifting techniques and prolonged sitting. Making changes to your lifestyle can help to stop the problem of mid back pain, among many others.

Yet, these are not the only causes of mid back pain. Other factors affecting the development of this problem are not within control. An incomplete rehabilitation of past injuries, automobile accidents, improper spinal alignment, and scoliosis are all contributors to mid back pain; yet, they are always out of the hands of the sufferer.

A Kind And Caring Chiropractor

The good news is that, regardless of whether the factors leading up to mid back pain are functions of your lifestyle or beyond your control, a chiropractor can almost always do something to ease your pain. Over the years, various techniques have been tested and perfected.

The most common treatment used for mid back pain is a spinal adjustment. This process involved a force, either mechanically or manually applied, that is gently used to realign the segments of the spine. This practice has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation, decrease spasms, and, best of all, relieve the pain!

An Ending Epidemic—Or Just Beginning?

Though mid back pain is becoming more and more common, it is easy to treat by simply paying a visit to your chiropractor. But you can avoid this problem altogether by improving your lifestyle. Let’s prevent the epidemic before it begins!