Middle Back Pain 1

OPTIMAL HEALTH UNIVERSITY ™ ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Presented by Katie Gravesen, DC What triggers vertebral subluxations Chiropractic for Middle Back Pain in the thoracic region? Here is a sam- Part I: Common Causes pling of the most common culprits:

If you have ever experienced pain in your middle back (thoracic area), you Improper Posture have plenty of company. One study estimates that 30 percent of working adults experience at least one episode of middle back pain each year (J Occup Health Dr. Gravesen finds that improper pos- 2009;51:177-92). ture is a widespread cause of vertebral subluxations and related middle back The good news is that chiropractic care effectively alleviates both acute and pain. chronic pain of the middle back. In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Gravesen describes the most common causes of middle back pain. Poor posture works against the body’s natural stabilization, normally con- trolled by a balance of muscles and gravity, thus subjecting the spine to the thoracic region may lead to pain The Spinal Connection excess strain (Electromyogr Clin Neu- and an exaggerated curvature of the rophysiol 2008;48:359-65). Like other types of back pain, middle spine — ranging from a mild roll of back pain is often rooted in a mis- the shoulders to a severe “hunchback”. Many patients tend to sit in a alignment of the vertebrae. This com- “slumped” position, allowing the pel- mon malady is called vertebral sub- Chiropractic care is rooted in detecting vis to rotate backward. A chair offer- luxation. and correcting vertebral subluxations ing inadequate back support, a com- with gentle maneuvers called chiro- puter monitor placed below eye level, Over time, vertebral subluxations in practic adjustments. or reaching too far to use a mouse are

common factors in middle back pain from sitting at work.

Dr. Gravesen guides patients to ad- dress workplace ergonomic concerns.

Attention to posture is essential for athletes as well. Runners may benefit from a gait analysis. Golfers and ten- nis players may benefit from a swing analysis by a professional instructor.

Physical Stress

Repetitive work (such as typing, lift- ing or running items through a check- out counter), as well as repetitive sports activities (such as swinging a bat, kicking a soccer ball or lifting weights), are major causes of vertebral subluxation and related pain in the middle back.

A chiropractic evaluation for thoracic

Katie Gravesen, DC, Sol Chiropractic (808) 270-2530 30 E Lipoa #4-102, Kihei, HI 96753 www.solchiro.com pain addresses how patients’ work symptoms include chest pain, after Research shows that proper back sup- activities may put them at risk and cardiovascular disease is ruled out, rib port while lying down distributes the what modifications may be necessary. misalignments “may be the underlying force of gravity evenly across the cause of the symptoms in certain pa- back, keeping the spine in a neutral Emotional Stress tients. When this is the case, chiro- position and reducing pain (J Can practic adjustment may provide an Chiropr Assoc 2005;49:96-101). Emotional stress is a significant insti- effective mode of treatment.” (J Ma- gator of vertebral subluxations. And, nipulative Physiol Ther 2003;26:108.) Studies also show that people who a growing body of research demon- sleep on the same side each night, or strates that emotional stress, anxiety Fortunately, chiropractic adjustments on their stomachs, may be at an ele- and depression dramatically boost the are highly effective at correcting mis- vated risk of back pain. odds of developing back problems, aligned ribs. The doctor may also rec- including middle back pain. ommend specific exercises, which As part of a chiropractic evaluation for provide stability to the area. middle back pain, patients are typi- A study performed by researchers cally asked about their mattress and from the Centers for Disease Control Referred Spinal Pain sleep position — and given specific and Prevention; National Institute for recommendations if changes are in Occupational Safety and Health; and All parts of the spine work in tandem. order. the University of Pittsburgh included This means that pain in the middle more than 6,000 material handlers in back is sometimes the result of a ver- Stop Suffering 160 newly opened retail stores. tebral subluxation in another part of the spine, such as the neck (cervical If you are experiencing middle back After adjusting for each patient’s his- spine) or the low back (lumbar spine). pain, there is no need to suffer. Call tory of back problems and work- our office today and schedule a chiro- related lifting, researchers found that For instance, in one case study, a pa- practic evaluation. Together, you and the risk of back pain was moderately tient experienced thoracic as well as the doctor will work to determine the increased among employees with in- lumbar pain due to an exaggerated underlying cause of your discomfort tensely demanding jobs, high levels of curve in the neck. When the patient’s — and how to correct it. job dissatisfaction and stressful sched- neck position was corrected, pain uling demands (Am J Ind Med throughout the entire back diminished And if you are pain-free, remember 2003;43:179-87). (J Chiropr Med 2002;1:113-5). one ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Focus on prevention by The doctor encourages patients to Osteoarthritis maintaining regular chiropractic well- maintain a stress-reduction plan. This ness visits. This will enable the doctor includes creating a schedule that Middle back pain may indicate the to correct dysfunction in your spine keeps you from feeling rushed, get- presence of osteoarthritis (OA). This before pain ensues. ting adequate sleep and exercising condition is also typically related to each day. Also, consider practicing a vertebral subluxations of the thoracic Next week look for part two of this stress-reduction technique, such as spine. Optimal Health University™ series on breathing exercises, yoga, t’ai chi, middle back pain. Part two will dis- meditation or prayer. A chronic degenerative disorder, OA cuss less common causes of middle is characterized by cartilage loss: re- back pain, the anatomy of the middle Misaligned Ribs sulting in pain and stiffness. However, back and cutting-edge scientific re- in its early stages, OA may have only search showing chiropractic care Just as spinal bones may become mis- mild symptoms, or even none at all. effectively alleviates this common aligned or subluxated, so may ribs. condition. In severe cases, OA of the thoracic Subluxations of the ribs often result in spine results in “hunchback”. Regular Optimal Health University™ is a professional service of PreventiCare Publishing®. The information and recom- “trigger points” of pain, causing the chiropractic care may ward off this mendations appearing on these pages are appropriate smooth muscles around the ribs to disfiguring condition before it takes in most instances; but they are not a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. Optimal spasm. Patients who complain of hold. Health University™ may be photocopied (NOT re- “knots” in their upper backs often printed) exactly as they are published noncommercially by current subscribers ONLY to share with patients or suffer from misaligned ribs. In some Mattress and Sleeping Position potential patients. Optimal Health University™ may cases, the sharp, jabbing nature of the NOT be reprinted in any print or electronic publication pain can mimic heartburn — or even Thoracic pain that occurs at night or including newsletters, newspapers, magazines or Web sites. Any other reproductions are subject to Preventi- a heart attack. upon rising may be due to an inade- Care Publishing® approval. Copyright, 2017. Preventi- quate mattress. Improper sleeping Care Publishing® . 1-831-313-0335. www.preventicare.com Researchers point out that, although position may also be to blame. Both of the possibility of a heart condition these factors can lead to vertebral sub- must always be considered when luxations in the middle back.