That tight, achy feeling between your shoulder blades? It’s surprisingly very common, especially if you spend hours at a computer or looking down at your phone.
Ultimately, upper back pain can range from mildly annoying to seriously debilitating. However, there are strategies to overcome it and pave the way toward a pain-free life. And surprisingly, they might not involve numerous exercises or stretches.
What Causes Upper Back Pain?
Your upper back (thoracic spine) is designed for stability, but modern life constantly pulls us forward. And yes, this includes hunching over keyboards, slouching on sofas, carrying heavy bags on one shoulder, and even wearing halter tops!
Over time, this forward positioning increases the workload on the muscles of the upper back as they work to keep you upright. When these muscles are asked to do more than they’re designed for, day after day, it may lead to fatigue, tension, and discomfort.
So, what can you actually do about it? Well, many experts recommend popular strengthening exercises and stretches. But what if the typical upper back exercises and stretches aren’t working for you? Then what?
Why Do Upper Back Exercises and Stretches Often Fall Short?
When we experience pain, exercises are often a treatment modality that comes highly recommended. Thus, you may have already searched for upper back exercises or stretches to relieve that stubborn pain between your shoulder blades. And the internet is full of recommendations, such as thoracic extensions, scapular squeezes, and wall angels.
And while sometimes, these may offer some temporary relief, you might find the pain keeps coming back.
So, what’s going on? Well, most upper back stretches focus on the muscles around the problem, but they don’t address why your muscles are under strain in the first place.
In many cases, upper back pain isn’t simply a muscle issue; it’s a structural one. When bones in your spine shift forward into positions your body can’t self-correct, the surrounding muscles are forced to compensate. They tighten, they ache, and they fatigue, no matter how much you stretch or strengthen them.
But this is where Advanced Biostructural Correction™ (ABC™) can play an invaluable role in helping you gain back control of your life. Instead of asking overworked muscles to do more, ABC™ identifies and corrects the specific spinal misalignments your body cannot fix on its own. In turn, this helps your body unwind, and your posture improves naturally.
Are You Still Experiencing Upper Back Pain?
Exercises help, but if your upper back pain keeps coming back, there may be something more going on! If you’re curious to dig into it more and tackle your pain at the root cause, your Finsbury Park chiropractor is here to help! Book your FREE discovery call today. BOOK NOW.