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Neck Aches Caused by Tight Thoracic Mid-Back Muscles

Neck Aches Caused by Tight Thoracic Mid-Back Muscles

Neck aches, soreness, and pain symptoms are not always neck-related. Tight thoracic or mid-back muscles can pull on the neck muscles causing various symptoms. Upper back tightness occurs anywhere from the neck’s base to the bottom of the rib cage. The bones in the upper area don’t move or flex as much as the neck and low back. This can lead individuals to believe there is nothing wrong with the mid-back, as there are no pain symptoms or signs of discomfort. However, individuals don’t realize how tight the muscles are, which can go on for years, causing neck issues. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can relieve symptoms, release, and relax tight muscles, increase circulation, and restore optimal function.

Neck Aches Caused by Tight Thoracic Mid-Back Muscles

Mid-Back Muscle Tightness

The upper and middle back is the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine has twelve small bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra on the thoracic spine is connected to a pair of ribs. The ribs wrap around the body and attach to a long, flat sternum bone. This forms the rib cage. The bones in the upper back work with the ribs to stabilize the back and protect vital organs, including the heart and lungs. The tightening and pulling eventually cause neck aches that can come out of nowhere; even when not moving and looking straight ahead, there can be persistent dull achiness or stinging sensations.

Causes

Unhealthy posture, disc problems, injuries, fractures, or other issues or conditions can cause mid-back muscle tightness.

Posture

  • Constant sitting or standing combined with unhealthy posture and being hunched over can cause the muscles to tighten, limiting mobility.

Holding Onto Stress

  • Chronic stress can cause muscle tightening, whether it is in the low back, mid-back, neck, or elsewhere.

Hereditary

  • Individual genetic makeup may make the body more susceptible to muscle tightness.
  • For example, individuals with a lot of muscle tone vs. individuals with less muscle tone may experience muscle tightness more often.

Adequate Hydration

  • Being properly hydrated is important for muscle and joint lubrication.
  • Water provides nutrients to contracting muscles.
  • This keeps the body loose and ready for movement.

Muscle Imbalance and Underlying Weakness

  • Individuals that tend to work one side of the body more than the other or have repeatedly been moving in a certain way for years can cause muscle imbalances and trigger points to develop.
  • If muscle tightness continues, even after stretching, it could be an underlying weakness.
  • The muscles can sometimes seize up and guard, so they feel tight when they have become chronically weak and not strong enough to meet the physical demands.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care involves various therapies to address the root cause fully and relieve neck aches. These include:

  • Massage therapies to break up compacted muscle tissue.
  • Remove trigger points.
  • Relax the muscles to a pliable state.
  • Perform chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine.
  • Stretching and strengthening.
  • Posture training that includes stretches/exercises.
  • Nutritional plans to help strengthen muscles.

Thoracic Tension Release


References

Gatt, Adrianna, et al. “Anatomy, Fascia Layers.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, Jul 25, 2022.

Liebsch, Christian, and Hans-Joachim Wilke. “How Does the Rib Cage Affect the Biomechanical Properties of the Thoracic Spine? A Systematic Literature Review.” Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology vol. 10 904539. Jun 15, 2022, doi:10.3389/fbioe.2022.904539

Maciejewska-Skrendo, Agnieszka et al. “Genetics of Muscle Stiffness, Muscle Elasticity and Explosive Strength.” Journal of human kinetics vol. 74 143-159. 31 Aug. 2020, doi:10.2478/hukin-2020-0027

Modes RJ, Lafci Fahrioglu S. Anatomy, Back. [Updated 2022 Feb 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539746/

Page, Phil. “Current concepts in muscle stretching for exercise and rehabilitation.” International journal of sports physical therapy vol. 7,1 (2012): 109-19.

Petrofsky, Jerrold et al. “The Efficacy of Sustained Heat Treatment on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness.” Clinical journal of sports medicine: official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine vol. 27,4 (2017): 329-337. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000375

Thoracic Spine – Middle Back Basics

Thoracic Spine – Middle Back Basics

The thoracic spine known as the middle back starts below the cervical or neck spine at around the level of the shoulders. It continues down to the first level of the low back or lumbar spine. There are twelve vertebrae, numbered T1-T12 top to bottom, and it is these vertebrae that make up the thoracic spine. When seen from the side, a normal forward curve can be seen.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Thoracic Spine - Middle Back Basics
 
The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine�s vertebrae making this region of the spine strong and stable. However, this area has less range-of-motion than the neck region. Because of its location, the thoracic spine deals less with injury/s than other areas of the spine. But it is the most common area for fractures from osteoporosis. Scoliosis and abnormal kyphosis are also thoracic spine disorders.  
 
Getting to know the body’s spine and how it functions can help individuals have a better and thorough understanding of possible causes to upper and middle back pain, a doctor�s diagnosis, and the reasons for how simple lifestyle changes/choices can keep the middle back, as well as, the rest of the spine healthy.

Thoracic Support

The thoracic spine gives support to the torso, chest and provides an attachment point for each of the rib bones, minus the two at the bottom. The vertebral bodies are rounded with bony arches that project from the back of each and form a hollow protective space for the spinal cord. Facet joints are paired at the back of each and allow for limited movement.  
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Intervertebral Discs

There is a fibrous pad called an intervertebral disc that is held in place by the endplates between each level�s upper and lower vertebral bodies. Each disc acts like a spacer creating disc height/space between the upper and lower vertebrae. This space opens nerve passageways called a foramen or neural foramina at both sides. Nerve roots branch off the spinal cord and exit the canal through the neural foramina.

Soft Support Structures Limited Movement/s

The entire spinal column consists of:
  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Muscles
These soft tissues attach to the bones, the discs, and work together to stabilize the midback when resting and when in motion. Ligaments are the strong bands of tissue that connect/protect the vertebrae, discs, provide stability, and help with excessive movement. Muscles hold the body upright and allow spinal flexion which is bending forward, extension bending backward, and rotation twisting from side to side. And the tendons are fibrous tissues that attach the muscle/s to the bone.

Nerves Role

The twelve pairs of nerve rootlets that branch off the cord through the neural foramen are to supply and generate sensation/feeling along with function/movement to the body. These nerves provide nutrients to the midback and chest area and relay signals between the brain and major organs, including:
  • Lungs
  • Heart
  • Liver
  • Small intestine

Spinal Disorders

  • Osteoporosis raises the chances of a thoracic fracture. A vertebral compression fracture can cause one or more bodies of bone to flatten or become wedge-shaped creating spinal cord/nerve compression. Sudden and severe back pain can be associated with vertebral compression fractures.
  • Scoliosis is an abnormal side to side curvature of the spine and is well known to develop in the thoracic spine causing deformity.
  • Abnormal kyphosis means the forward curvature has become extreme. The appearance of a kyphotic deformity can be seen as a hump.
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Thoracic Spine - Middle Back Basics
 

Types of kyphosis:

  • Congenital or appearing at birth
  • Posture related
  • Scheuermann�s disease
  • Metastatic cancer where it travels from the chest, or lung causing spinal tumor/s that can develop and potentially lead to structural deterioration
  • Thoracic disc herniations are not common because of the middle back’s strength and stability created by the ribcage.

Spine Maintenance

Talk with your doctor, chiropractor, spine specialist about stretches and exercises that will work for your specific situation to strengthen the core, and middle back musculature. This will help significantly with injury prevention during flexion, extension, and rotation.
  • Pay attention to posture
  • Learn to use proper body mechanics
  • Quit smoking/vaping
  • Healthy diet
  • Learn about the risks for osteoporosis and talk with your doctor about a preventive bone maintenance plan.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*