Upper Back Pain Chiropractor Forest Lake

If you were able to see what’s under your skin, you’d notice your spine. It’s made up of 33 individual bones. They’re stacked one on top of the other in what’s called the spinal column. The spine (and these bones) provide the support your body needs to do everyday activities, like standing up, bending and twisting your body as needed. When you strain or injure a part of this structure, you’ll feel pain.

Most people visit a chiropractor for pain in their lower back, but some experience upper back pain. Did you know that the upper back, also known as the thoracic spine, contains a dozen spinal bones? There are also many muscles in this area as well as fascia. If you’re wondering what fascia is, it’s a layer of connective tissue surrounding your muscles so they can operate properly.

All sorts of things can cause a person to have upper back pain. Chronic bad posture is often a culprit, as is injury.

Remember the term fascia? There’s such a thing as myofascial pain syndrome. It involves pressure being put on “trigger points” in your muscles, and it typically happens when a person does repetitive motions and/or keeps their muscles tense and stressed out. A chiropractor can treat this problem by putting direct pressure on your trigger point(s) to help the body heal itself.

The majority of joints in the entire spine are found in your upper back. When these joints function normally, they’re in their correct position and can carry out the motions your brain intends them to do. However, when these joints aren’t functioning normally, a chiropractor can employ manual adjusting techniques to adjust them back into their proper place and positioning.

Most patients will lie face down on a bench at the chiropractor’s office. The chiropractor will apply pressure at certain points around the thoracic spine. On some occasions, the patient may lie on their side. It’s normal for a chiropractor to ask the patient to take a deep breath– and when they exhale the chiropractor goes to work on them.

Dr. Jason Gerard of Lakewoods Chiropractic in Forest Lake, MN, can help you manage your upper back pain. Please schedule an appointment by calling 651-464-0800.