A pain in the upper back should never be ignored: "when the pain is deaf, you may be tempted to say," it doesn't matter, I can live with ": this is a bad idea because a back pain can quickly degenerate – for example in cervical osteoarthritis " , says the specialist. In some more serious cases, a pain in the upper back can even reveal the presence of a pathology: no question of "do with". Pain in the upper back: where does it come from? When the pain is of mechanical origin, it is usually caused by the prolonged contraction of a muscle (Trapeze, large dorsals, rhomboids...): this quasi-permanent muscular tension most often stems from a bad posture.
"There are often pain in the upper back of young parents who are often leaning forward (to give the bath, for example, or to carry baby)," explains Adrien ezine. The upper back muscles are obliged to contract to maintain the spine that goes forward and, in the long run, it causes persistent pain. "
Same in women who carry a handbag (heavy) on a shoulder: "the upper back muscles are obliged to be contracted all day long to withstand the compaction due to the weight of the bag ", develops the specialist. Attention: sometimes the pain in the upper back is not of mechanical origin. "A pain in the upper back associated with difficulty breathing and/or a sensation of oppression must imperatively be the subject of a doctor's appointment: there is a risk of lung or cardiac pathology," warns Adrien ezine. Same reaction if pain occurs brutally after a cough or sneezing, especially in postmenopausal women: it may be a spinal fracture.
Last on the bench of the accused: stress. "A stressed person breathes poorly: the low respiratory amplitude affects the ribs, the back muscles... and this can end with pain in the upper back. Not to mention that in case of stress, some people move vaulted or shoulders forward, which aggravates muscular tensions. "
I have a sore upper back:
5 Solutions For Pain Relief
- If you are very stressed on a daily basis, consider relaxation techniques: meditation in Mindfulness, sophrology, yoga of laughter... "there are many apps to learn about heart coherence, a relaxation technique that gives good results "adds Adrien ezine.
- In case of pain in the upper back associated with intense stress, test this exercise: upright, the back straight and the shoulders released, inhale deeply through the nose for 3 seconds and then exhale long by the mouth for 7 seconds. Repeat twice.
- If you have a lot of pain at the top of your back during the day, practice this stretching every morning for 30 seconds: stand on all fours and put your buttocks on your heels. Then stretch your arms and try to get in front of you as far as possible by breathing deeply.
- "If you have a horizontal bar (or a ledge above a door), you can also suspend it for a few seconds, with the arms well stretched and the knees reassembled: this is an excellent exercise to stretch the muscles from the upper back.
From the first pains (not acute and in the absence of other symptoms), make an appointment with an osteopath. If the pain persists after 2 sessions, a doctor's appointment is required.