Mid Back Pain
The Thoracic spine is located in the middle of your spine and is responsible for mainly rotation and lateral flexion movements. It also allows attachment points for the ribs, and so has a significant role in breathing and shoulder biomechanics.
Mid back pain can be caused by several factors including traumatic causes and structural causes. Traumatic causes can arise from falls, motor vehicle accidents and sporting injuries. Due to the close proximity of the thoracic spine to the major organs, any injury to this area should be treated with careful assessment.
Assessment of mid back pain will encompass a full postural screen and include a shoulder orthopaedic examination and a Cardiovascular screen. Shoulder and scapula biomechanics play an important role in assessing thoracic pain.
Causes of Mid Back Pain
- Lifting incorrectly
- Sports impact injuries
- Falling from a height
- Structural or congenital abnormalities
Common Symptoms experienced with Mid Back Pain
- Pain radiating around ribs
- Sharp localized pain when breathing
- Lack of movement due to pain
- Posture changes
- Muscle spasm or trigger points in mid back
Common conditions causing Mid Back Pain
- Scoliosis
- Scheuermann’s Disease
- Compression fracture
- Costovertebral joint sprain
- Muscle Strain/Sprain
How Mid Back Pain affects your lifestyle
- Difficulty breathing deeply
- Unable to exercise due to pain
- Distracted sleep patterns
- Sitting for long periods becomes uncomfortable
