Mid Back Pain can occur for a variety of reasons. The middle back is made up of bones from the thoracic spine. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae, but the middle back is composed of bones from T5-T12. The vertebrae in the thoracic spine have a kyphotic curve, or a curve that rounds backward, which helps balance the lordotic or inward curves of the neck and lower back. This curve also allows the spine to act as a spring to absorb forces of gravity and movement.
Our ribs attach to the bones of the thoracic spine, making this part of the spine very secure. It is very uncommon to see disc injuries or severe spinal injuries in the thoracic spine.
Traditional medicine treats middle back pain with physical therapy, medications, injections, and surgery if necessary. Chiropractic is an all-natural alternative to these treatments by utilizing chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments help to unlock stuck, misaligned joints and help take pinching and pressure off the nerves. Chiropractic treatment is safe and effective and yields fantastic results.
$49 Complete Chiropractic Health Screening For Mid Back Pain
$49 for a complete chiropractic health screening including a consultation, exam, X-rays if necessary, a report of findings, and a plan of action.
How Our Chiropractic Care Works
1. Get To The Root Cause
Schedule a time you can sit with a chiropractor who will take a thorough history and exam to find out the root cause of the problem
2. Customize A Plan Of Attack
The chiropractor will create a customized care plan to not only get you out of pain but work toward keeping you well long term.
3. Change Your Life
Start doing all the things you couldn’t do, or were afraid to try because of pain, and change your life for the better.
How We Treat Mid Back Pain in Belmar, NJ
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
When a patient comes into the office with mid back pain, it’s essential to take a thorough history to determine what may have caused it. In our office, we go above and beyond to ascertain what past history (even years ago) may have contributed to the patient’s current state. Middle back pain can be caused by accidents, injuries, repetitive stress, or poor posture. It’s critical to really listen to our patients so we can try to determine what may be causing the pain. Once we have the history, we can move into the exam.
We do a thorough spinal examination in our office. We perform orthopedic, chiropractic, and functional tests, palpation, range of motion, and postural exams. Then, we take a series of digital X-rays to see the spine and its problems clearly. At Kinney Chiropractic, we do not want to guess what the problem might be. We want to see so we know the root cause of the problem.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Belmar, NJ
The thoracic spine is the largest portion of the spine, composed of 12 vertebrae. Many joints, nerves, ligaments, and tendons make up the thoracic spine, so many things can cause middle back pain. During the exam, we will identify the particular joints that are restricted or not moving well. We call these restrictions in the spine: subluxations. This is where joints may be out of normal alignment, stuck or locked, or not moving well and often cause abnormal pressure on the nerves. Subluxations are totally correctable, usually giving rise to immediate relief.
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.
Massage Therapy and Soft Tissue Work
Massage therapy is another great tool to help support adjustments and alleviate abnormally tight and spasming muscles in the middle back. Poor posture, old injuries, accidents, repetitive stressors, or scoliosis are some leading causes of middle back pain. If muscles are abnormally tight, it’s important to loosen up and support the soft tissues around the spine so the Chiropractic adjustments can be effective.
At Kinney Chiropractic, we have a massage therapist on staff who is available by appointment to perform massages on patients who feel they need the additional support to lessen the tension and pain associated with very tight muscles.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Certain movements can worsen middle back pain, and we try to discover this during your exam. That’s why knowing proper movements or exercises to support your middle back and lessen pain is so important. Abnormal alignment or motion in the joints is what causes pain. Proper stretches and exercises will help restore joint motion and movement and improve flexibility.
At Kinney Chiropractic, we prescribe specific stretching and strengthening exercises for each patient depending on their condition to help minimize pain and maximize motion. Plans are customized and specific to each patient to help reduce pain and support their chiropractic care plan. Exercises that focus on improving mobility, stability, flexibility, and strength get patients out of pain and prevent future aches and injuries.
Common Causes of Mid Back Pain
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor in Belmar, NJ help with mid back pain?
Yes. Chiropractic care is one of the best things you can do to help get rid of middle back pain safely without drugs or surgery.
Will my mid back pain go away by itself?
Maybe. But if it doesn’t or keeps recurring, it’s time to get it checked by a chiropractor.
How can you tell if your spine is out of alignment?
A thorough exam and X-rays are the best way to determine if your spine is out of alignment.
How do you fix chronic mid back pain?
The best way to fix chronic back pain is with comprehensive Chiropractic care and supportive stretching and strengthening exercises which is what we do at Kinney Chiropractic.
When should I worry about mid back pain?
If pain is severe, if you have pain that does not go away or postural/spinal changes, you should definitely get it checked out by a chiropractor.
$49 Complete Chiropractic Health Screening For Mid Back Pain
$49 for a complete chiropractic health screening including a consultation, exam, X-rays if necessary, a report of findings, and a plan of action.