Are You Dealing With Mid Back Pain?
Watch this video to learn more about how back pain forms.
Understanding The Anatomy Of Mid Back Pain
Your spine is formed by a set-off of 24 bones that are stacked on top of each other with a soft "disc" between each segment to allow for flexibility.
In a normal and healthy back, each joint in your spine should move freely and independently.
Imagine a typical spine behaving like a big spring flowing freely in all directions as a visual aid. If your spine has a joint restriction it is similar to having a section of that spring welded together. The spring may still move as a whole, but a portion of it is no longer functioning.
Understanding The Causes Of Joint Restrictions.
Joint restrictions can develop in a number of different ways.
In some situations, they are formed by the individual suffering from an accident or injury. In other cases, they develop from a repetitive strain or through poor posture. Being overweight, smoking, strenuous work, and emotional stress can increase the risk of you suffering from problems.
Swelling and inflammation are common when a joint is narrowed, which causes muscular guarding and further restriction. Since your spine works as a unit, and not as isolated pieces, a joint restriction in one area of your spine can have a negative impact on other areas of your back or your back as a whole. It may be helpful to think of this situation as a rowboat with multiple oarsmen on each side. When one rower quits, the others are placed under additional stress and can become overworked.
When To Contact A Professional About A Joint Restriction.
Joint restrictions most commonly cause the impacted area to experience tenderness and discomfort.
You may notice that you do not have your full range of motion. In some situations, movement may increase your discomfort.
The pain from a restricted joint usually begins around your rib cage and progresses up and down your spine. Always be sure to contact us if you experience any chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual cough, indigestion or flu-like complaints. Long-standing restrictions are thought to result in arthritis - much like the way a slightly misaligned wheel on your car causes premature wearing of your tire.
How We Treat Back Pain At Our Office?
You should recognize that your problem is very common and is usually very treatable.
Chiropractic therapy has been shown to be the best and most successful method of treating joint restrictions. At our office we offer several different tools to help ease your pain. To speed your recovery, you should avoid activities that make your pain worse. Be sure to take frequent breaks if you have a lot of sedentary activity. Yoga has also been shown to help back pain sufferers so consider joining a class or finding one online.