Posture Problem
Spinal health is directly related to your posture. If you sit, drive, look at your phone or computer, stand or sleep with poor posture, this can cause changes in muscle and ligament tension. If muscles and ligaments are too weak or too tight, it can distort the shape of your spine. Poor posture over time will give you back pain.
Even small postural changes can cause pressure on nerves and create nervous system dysfunction and pain. Chronic postural problems develop over time and usually start at a young age. That’s why it’s so important to have your children checked by a chiropractor if you think they exhibit poor posture.
Subluxation
The most common cause of mid back pain is subluxations. Subluxations are when spinal joints shift out of normal alignment and get locked or stuck, causing abnormal motion in the joint, increased wear and tear on the spine, and pinching or pressure on the nerves. This also can cause abnormal nerve irritation and pain over time. Long-standing subluxations will give rise to arthritis.
Adjustments are what chiropractors use to correct subluxations. Once we know where the subluxations are, we utilize small forces in the spine to improve motion, correct alignment, and alleviate pressure on the nerves. Adjustments reduce pain and pinching on nerves in the middle back. Even with scoliosis, there can be subluxations or locked restricted joints not moving well. Adjustments can even be administered to a scoliotic spine. Only chiropractors are trained experts at identifying and removing subluxations in the spine.
Muscle Strain
There are many soft tissue attachments in the middle back spine, around the shoulder blades, in between ribs, and attachments up into the lower neck that perform a variety of movements. If done improperly, these motions and movements can create opportunities for muscle strain, leading to partial fiber damage that creates soreness and inflammation.
Manual muscle/soft tissue therapy, stretching, and exercises can help speed recovery. At Kinney Chiropractic, we support all adjustments with soft tissue muscle therapy.
Rib Subluxation
Rib subluxations are commonly referred to as a ‘rib out of place’. This can happen with accidents, injuries, and poor posture, but also with intense coughing, sneezing, or asthmatic wheezing. The rib partially shifts out of place at the joint where the rib head meets the spine. The pain can be sharp, especially with breathing or any rib cage expansion.
Chiropractic adjustments are very effective at providing safe, gentle, instant relief for rib head subluxations.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an idiopathic condition (meaning no one knows why) that can start at birth. Throughout the growth process, lateral curvatures develop in the spine, distorting posture and affecting joints asymmetrically. Scoliosis occurs more commonly in girls than boys. Usually, scoliosis only advances during the growing years, worsens during puberty, and usually stops with the end of puberty and growth. Often scoliosis can go unnoticed and cause no symptoms. But some can advance to be more noticeable, more serious, and cause pain. Serious cases need more invasive care, such as bracing. Severe cases may require surgery.
At Kinney Chiropractic, we see many cases of scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments don’t cure scoliosis, but we have seen a slow down or reduction of lateral curvature in some cases. We treat with adjustments and prescribe supportive stretches and exercises to get the best results possible.
