The upper back consists of the middle section of the spine (thoracic region), the ribcage and surrounding muscles. The thoracic spine has slightly less movement than the rest of the spine to assist the ribcage in protecting the heart and lungs. Too much stiffness in the thoracic spine can result in upper back pain.
Upper back pain and stiffness can occur from:
- Long periods of sitting (including desk jobs or driving jobs)
- Poor sitting posture
- Bad work chair set up
- Refer to the neck, shoulder and lower back
It is important to get you upper back pain assessed so we can identify the source of your pain, treat your symptoms and improve your posture.