Mid Back Pain
Mid Back Pain Treatment in Scottsdale
Pain between the shoulder blades or through the middle of your back can make everyday movement uncomfortable. Bending, twisting, reaching, exercising, or even taking a deep breath may become difficult when the muscles, joints, or ribs in the thoracic region aren't moving properly.
At Body Check Chiropractic, Dr. Matt Tanneberg evaluates the spine, ribs, muscles, and surrounding structures to identify musculoskeletal factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. Treatment is then tailored to your specific condition rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Mid-back pain can occur on its own or alongside rib, shoulder, or chest-area discomfort.
Common Causes of Mid Back Pain
Thoracic pain can develop for many different reasons, including:
Muscle strains and tension
Poor posture
Long periods of sitting
Repetitive movements
Sports and exercise-related injuries
Motor vehicle accidents
Restricted thoracic spinal joints
Rib joint restrictions
Muscle imbalances
Overuse and physical stress
Pain may feel localized to the middle of the back or extend toward the ribs, shoulders, or chest.
Rib Pain & Rib Joint Dysfunction
The ribs connect to the thoracic spine and are involved in nearly every breath you take. When a rib joint becomes restricted or surrounding muscles become irritated, you may experience pain along the side or front of the rib cage.
Rib-related discomfort may become more noticeable with:
Deep breathing
Coughing or sneezing
Twisting
Reaching
Exercise
Certain sleeping positions
Touch or pressure over the affected area
Dr. Matt can evaluate the movement of the thoracic spine and rib cage to determine whether musculoskeletal dysfunction may be contributing to your symptoms.
Chest Pain & Musculoskeletal Causes
Some chest-area pain can originate from muscles, ribs, joints, or the thoracic spine. For example, irritation of the muscles between the ribs or restriction around the rib joints may cause localized chest-wall discomfort.
However, not all chest pain is musculoskeletal.
New, unexplained, severe, or persistent chest pain should be medically evaluated. If chest pain occurs with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, fainting, or pain spreading into the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, seek emergency medical attention.
Chiropractic care should not be used as a substitute for medical evaluation of potentially cardiac, pulmonary, or other serious causes of chest pain.
How Body Check Chiropractic Can Help
Once serious causes have been ruled out and symptoms appear to be musculoskeletal, Dr. Matt can develop an individualized treatment plan based on the structures involved.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Thoracic spinal and rib adjustments can help restore motion to restricted joints and improve movement throughout the mid-back and rib cage.
Myofascial Release
Tight muscles throughout the mid-back, shoulders, chest, and rib cage can contribute to pain and restricted movement. Myofascial release can be used to address soft tissue tension and improve mobility.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping may be incorporated to target muscular tension and soft tissue restriction throughout the mid-back, shoulders, and surrounding areas.
ARPwave Neuromuscular Therapy
ARPwave uses targeted electrical stimulation to interact with the neuromuscular system. It may be incorporated to support muscle activation, recovery, and function when muscular dysfunction is contributing to symptoms.
PEMF Therapy
The Zimmer EMfield provides Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy and may be incorporated into your treatment plan as a non-invasive recovery modality designed to support circulation and the body's natural recovery processes.
Red Light Therapy
The ARCC Red Light Therapy Bed may be used as an additional recovery therapy. Red and near-infrared light exposure is designed to support cellular function and the body's natural recovery processes.
StemWave Shockwave Therapy
For appropriate soft tissue conditions, StemWave Shockwave Therapy may be incorporated to target areas of persistent pain or tissue dysfunction and support the body's natural recovery response.
Personalized Mid Back & Rib Care
Mid-back and rib pain can look different from one person to the next. One patient may have primarily muscular tension, while another may have restricted thoracic or rib joints, an injury, or a combination of factors.
Dr. Matt takes the time to evaluate your symptoms and movement to determine which structures may be involved. Your treatment plan can then be adjusted as your condition improves.
At Body Check Chiropractic, you'll work directly with Dr. Matt at every visit, receiving consistent one-on-one care throughout your recovery.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Because chest and upper-back pain can sometimes be associated with serious medical conditions, don't assume that new chest pain is a chiropractic problem.
Seek immediate medical attention for chest pain that is severe, sudden, unexplained, or accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, fainting, or pain radiating to the arm, jaw, shoulder, or back.
For persistent mid-back or rib pain that has been medically determined to be musculoskeletal, Body Check Chiropractic can provide a personalized evaluation and treatment approach.
If you're looking for mid-back pain treatment in Scottsdale, Dr. Matt provides individualized chiropractic and soft tissue care designed to help restore movement and get you back to doing the things you enjoy.