Upper Back Pain Relief: Tips for Better Posture
The upper back, known as the thoracic spine, is the area between the neck and lower back. Stiffness, muscle spasms, and pain are common symptoms. People may also feel pain when they breathe deeply, move in certain ways, or touch the area.
All can lead to upper back pain. Scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the thoracic spine, sometimes causes upper back pain.
Table of Contents
Muscle strain can cause upper back pain. These muscles help form the upper back and attach to three spinous processes. The spinous processes are small bones on the back of the spine. The rhomboid helps move the shoulder blades. Rhomboid muscle strain and spasms cause pain, especially between the shoulder blades. People often compare muscle spasms and discomfort to knots.
If possible, getting early treatment can speed healing and recovery.
Ice therapy is recommended for the first few days, followed by heat therapy.
Wrapped in a towel, apply them for 20 minutes every 4-6 hours. Heat treatment can start after two to three days of ice treatment. Wrap the heat source in a towel and remove it before sleep.
Under a doctor’s guidance, these stretches and exercises can help relieve stiffness and pain. Begin with three short sets of five and gradually increase as the symptoms allow. Take it slow and easy.
Stand against a wall:
A doctor/healthcare provider should evaluate upper back pain resulting from the injury. If home therapy fails to relieve symptoms, call a doctor. They may recommend:
All can help relax muscles, relieve pain, and increase mobility.
Kent S. Greenawalt, President and CEO of Foot Levelers, discusses how custom foot orthotics can help reduce back pain, low back pain, and sciatica.
In a recent research study published by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), researchers demonstrated that foot levelers and custom foot orthotics help considerably reduce back pain and several associated health issues. The study also showed that Foot Levelers’ custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care can significantly reduce low back pain and sciatica. Foot Levelers’ custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care helped improve the patient’s overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez is a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and can help provide these benefits through chiropractic care and Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics, among other treatments.
Pain in the upper and/or mid-back is not as common as lower back or neck pain. The upper back is called the thoracic spinal column, the most secure part of the spine. The range of movement in the upper back is limited because of the backbone’s attachments to the ribs (rib cage). Upper back pain is generally caused by soft tissue injuries, such as sprains or strains; muscle tension from poor posture; or looking downward for long periods (e.g., texting or mobile phone use).
General Disclaimer, Licenses and Board Certifications *
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Upper Back Pain Relief: Tips for Better Posture" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic & Wellness Blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a Multi-State board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those on this site and on our family practice-based chiromed.com site, focusing on naturally restoring health for patients of all ages.
Our areas of multidisciplinary practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.
Our information scope is multidisciplinary, focusing on musculoskeletal and physical medicine; wellness; contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations; associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics; subluxation complexes; sensitive health issues; and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and licensure jurisdiction. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for musculoskeletal injuries or disorders.
Our videos, posts, topics, and insights address clinical matters and issues that directly or indirectly relate to our clinical scope of practice.
Our office has made a reasonable effort to provide supportive citations and has identified relevant research studies that support our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies upon request to regulatory boards and the public.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Multidisciplinary Licensing & Board Certifications:
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License #: TX5807, Verified: TX5807
New Mexico DC License #: NM-DC2182, Verified: NM-DC2182
Multi-State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN*) in Texas & Multi-States
Multi-state Compact APRN License by Endorsement (42 States)
Texas APRN License #: 1191402, Verified: 1191402 *
New Mexico CNP License#: 90560, Verified
Florida APRN License #: 11043890, Verified: APRN11043890 *
Colorado License #: C-APN.0105610-C-NP, Verified: C-APN.0105610-C-NP
New York License #: N25929, Verified N25929
License Verification Link: Nursys License Verifier
* Prescriptive Authority Authorized
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
(Board Certified: Family Practice Nurse Practitioner—Multistate)*
(Licensed Nurse Practitioner & Chiropractor - Multistate)*
Clinical Director
Digital Business Card
Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified: Internal Medicine)
(Licensed Medical Doctor)
Medical Director, Clinical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426748
MD License #: J2933
Licenses and Board Certifications:
MD: Medical Doctor
DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
APRNP: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
FNP-BC: Family Practice Specialization (Multi-State Board Certified)
RN: Registered Nurse (Multi-State Compact License)
CFMP: Certified Functional Medicine Provider
MSN-FNP: Master of Science in Family Practice Medicine
MSACP: Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice
IFMCP: Institute of Functional Medicine
CCST: Certified Chiropractic Spinal Trauma
ATN: Advanced Translational Neutrogenomics
Memberships & Associations:
TCA: Texas Chiropractic Association: Member ID: 104311
AANP: American Association of Nurse Practitioners: Member ID: 2198960
ANA: American Nurses Association: Member ID: 06458222 (District TX01)
TNA: Texas Nurse Association: Member ID: 06458222
NPI: 1205907805
| Primary Taxonomy | Selected Taxonomy | State | License Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| No | 111N00000X - Chiropractor | NM | DC2182 |
| Yes | 111N00000X - Chiropractor | TX | DC5807 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | TX | 1191402 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | FL | 11043890 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | CO | C-APN.0105610-C-NP |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | NY | N25929 |
| Yes | 363LF0000X - Nurse Practitioner - Family | NM | 90560 |
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
(Board Certified: Family Practice Nurse Practitioner—Multistate)*
(Licensed Nurse Practitioner & Chiropractor - Multistate)*
Clinical Director
Digital Business Card
Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified: Internal Medicine)*
(Licensed Medical Doctor)*
Medical Director, Clinical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426748
MD License #: J2933
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