The middle area of the spine is the most rigid area of the back. It is estimated that one out of ten men and one out of five women suffer from middle back pain. What are the main causes of this kind of pain? Keep reading to find out more!
Let’s imagine the case of Claudia, a 35-year-old woman who leads a very busy life. Her days are packed full, as she juggles work obligations, family life, and personal activities.
At some point, Claudia begins to notice intense pain in the muscles of the middle back, which gets worse when she carries out some activity. Claudia is most likely experiencing mechanical-functional back pain, a very common problem often arising from the co-existing stresses of the psychological, postural and muscular demands inherent in family, work, and social life. In fact, one of the causes of middle back pain can be continued stress and anxiety.
Pain in the thoracic spine, where the middle part of the back is located, is probably the least commonly understood, as people are more likely to see a specialist for neck pain or lower back pain. Low back pain, or lumbalgia, is common because the lumbar spine is one of the most active and mobile parts of the spinal column, and neck pain arises when there are problems in the cervical spine.
Unlike the lumbar or cervical area, the middle back, which houses the rib cage, is a rather static part of the body. On a general level, pain in the middle spine is not typically a serious condition. Recovery can be expected after a few weeks of proper treatment.
Middle back pain: let’s talk about the causes
Middle back pain can stem from various causes, ranging from injuries to poor posture habits. We describe the nature of these causes here:
- Injury: due to a fall, a sports injury, a car accident, a direct blow to the middle back, or excessive strain.
- Mechanical: Muscular changes in the middle back can cause pain. In the case of pathologies like scoliosis, there are usually spinal deformities in this area. In addition, two other pathologies that impact this area are respiratory problems and kyphosis (an exaggerated forward curvature of the back, commonly known as a hump).
- Degenerative processes: problems related to aging, or sedentary lifestyles. Some of the most common are vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis, more frequent in women over 65 years of age, and osteoarthritis, which is the most frequent degenerative joint disease
- Physiology: Conditions such as being overweight and leading a sedentary life can lead to muscle problems in the back and cause annoying pain or discomfort over time. Also, stress and anxiety, two factors that we mentioned at the beginning of this article, are a common reason for middle back pain.
- Rheumatic pathology: Two autoimmune diseases that are chronic forms of arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis, can both affect the spine.
Smoking increases the risk of back pain
Types of middle back pain
The thoracic spine is composed of 12 vertebrae, articulated with 12 pairs of ribs, the first ten ribs reaching the sternum in the front to form the rib cage. As we mentioned earlier, the middle spine is functionally rigid and has less mobility than the cervical or lumbar spine. However, this does not keep it from being vulnerable to discomfort.
There are two types of pain that affect this area of the back: structural or functional.
Structural back pain
- Rigid back pain, is common in older people and in those who suffer from osteoarthritis.
- Flexible back pain, can afflict people whose back has little curvature or insufficient musculature.
Functional back pain
- Mechanical/functional back pain, known for being more intense during the course of the day while performing activities. At the beginning of this article, we mentioned that this type of middle back pain is closely related to conflicts in family life or work, and it can also appear because of postural and muscular factors.
- Inflammatory back pain, frequently manifests at the end of the day, after completing the day’s tasks, and decreases when you begin to move in the morning of the following day.
Non-surgical treatments to relieve pain
If the need for surgery is ruled out, the first step to treat middle back pain is physical therapy. At Instituto Clavel, we have specialists trained specifically in helping patients with this pathology, using non-surgical treatments aimed at reducing pain and restoring quality of life.
We are here to help you through that process. We know you want to get rid of the pain that prevents you from carrying out your normal life. We can help you get back to doing the things you like!
You can contact us here for medical advice
Intense pain in the middle of the back can be disabling to the point that you feel you can’t carry out your normal life, and although each patient and their situation is unique, physical therapy can be helpful in these ways:
- Relaxation of the shoulder girdle
- Postural re-education
- Respiratory re-education, applying diaphragmatic and thoracic breathing techniques
- Bodybuilding and muscle strengthening to correct posture
- Stretching
In addition to this, our specialists will suggest you review your daily habits. One of the first points will be to review the ergonomics of your workplace. Having the right furniture is essential: a chair with a backrest, for example, that allows you to maintain correct posture when sitting, straight back, knees at 90 degrees and feet fully supported on the ground.
In addition to this, don’t forget the importance of eating a healthy diet and getting enough rest! You should use a firm mattress that supports your back well. When it comes to fashion, choose flat shoes rather than very high heels.
Getting regular exercise or playing sports can also help you prevent back problems and improve back health. Examples of sports or physical activities that are good for your back might be swimming and Pilates. As long as your doctor approves, you should be able to enjoy these without any problem.
Exercises for relief of back pain
If physical therapy is not enough to relieve the pain, at Instituto Clavel we have a Pain Clinic, specializing in minimally-invasive medical treatments to counter pain, such as rhizolysis or infiltrations.
Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Back pain