Mid-back pain is a common issue that affects individuals of all ages and lifestyles. Whether it’s a dull ache, sharp pain, or discomfort after sitting for extended periods, the effects of mid-back pain can significantly impact your daily routine. For residents in Saskatoon, finding relief and addressing the root cause of this pain is crucial to improving quality of life. If you’ve been experiencing mid-back pain, you’re not alone. Fortunately, E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, are here to help you understand the causes and provide effective treatment options.
Why Mid-Back Pain Happens: Exploring the Three Common Causes
Mid-back pain, also known as thoracic spine pain, can arise from various underlying issues. While it may not be as well-known as lower back or neck pain, it can be just as debilitating. Let’s dive into three of the most common causes of mid-back pain:
- Poor Posture and Sedentary Lifestyle
- Muscle Strain and Overuse
- Joint Dysfunction
1. Poor Posture and Sedentary Lifestyle
In today’s digital age, poor posture is one of the leading contributors to mid-back pain. Whether you're sitting at a desk for work, slouching on the couch, or staring down at your phone for hours, these habits place tremendous strain on your thoracic spine.
How Poor Posture Affects the Mid-Back
When your shoulders round forward and your head tilts downward, the muscles in your mid-back—such as the trapezius and rhomboids—become overstretched and weakened. Over time, this constant tension leads to discomfort, stiffness, and eventually pain.
Poor posture can also affect your breathing patterns. The thoracic spine plays a critical role in supporting the rib cage, and slouching can limit your lung capacity, making breathing shallower. This adds an additional strain to the muscles around your mid-back, further contributing to pain.
Finding Relief with E3 Chiropractic + Wellness
At E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, our Saskatoon chiropractors work to address posture-related mid-back pain. Through chiropractic adjustments and corrective exercises, we can help realign the spine and strengthen the muscles responsible for maintaining good posture. Patients receive personalized care plans that may include posture retraining, ergonomic adjustments for your workspace, and stretches to alleviate tension.
2. Muscle Strain and Overuse
Muscle strain is another frequent cause of mid-back pain. Engaging in physical activities without proper warm-up, or lifting heavy objects incorrectly, can lead to muscle overuse and strain. Even repetitive movements like carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder or doing manual labor can contribute to this condition.
How Muscle Strain Develops
Your mid-back muscles, including the erector spinae and the intercostal muscles between your ribs, are involved in many of your daily movements. Overworking these muscles or straining them suddenly can lead to inflammation, tenderness, and pain. It’s not uncommon for people to experience sharp, stabbing pain in the thoracic region after activities that involve twisting or bending, especially if proper form isn’t maintained.
Chronic overuse can result in myofascial pain syndrome, where trigger points (knots in the muscles) develop and refer pain to different areas of the body. This can cause not only local discomfort but also headaches and referred pain to the arms and shoulders.
E3’s Approach to Muscle Strain Recovery
At E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, muscle strain is treated with a combination of therapies designed to promote healing and restore function. Our chiropractors use soft tissue therapies to release muscle tension. Therapeutic massage, electrical stimulation, and dry needling are some of the techniques used to reduce pain and improve muscle function.
3. Joint Dysfunction
The thoracic spine, made up of 12 vertebrae, is susceptible to joint stiffness that can cause pain and limited mobility. Joint stiffness, also known as joint-dysfunction, particularly involving the facet joints, can also cause significant discomfort.
The Impact of Joint Stiffness
Joint stiffness in the thoracic spine can lead to nerve irritation, muscle spasms, and restricted movement. When the joints in your spine are stiff, that can cause inflammation in the surrounding area, creating a perpetuating cycle of pain. Inflammation will result in muscle tightness, resulting in additional joint dysfunction. Inflammation and tight muscles can irritate nerves, causing pain to radiate through the mid-back, shoulders, and even down to your lower back. Additionally, joint dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the spine to compensate, leading to further strain and discomfort.
E3’s Expertise in Correcting Joint Dysfunction
Chiropractic care at E3 Chiropractic + Wellness is highly effective for treating spinal joint dysfunction. Our chiropractors use precise adjustments to improve joint motion, relieving pressure on nerves and restoring proper function to the joints. These adjustments are gentle and tailored to each patient’s needs, ensuring effective pain relief and long-term spinal health.
Seeking Professional Help: Why E3 Chiropractic + Wellness Stands Out
Mid-back pain can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to control your life. At E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, we believe in a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. Whether your pain stems from poor posture, muscle strain, or spinal misalignment, our team of experienced chiropractors and physiotherapists in Saskatoon is dedicated to providing personalized care that gets to the root of the problem.
We begin with a thorough assessment to understand your unique situation. From there, we create a tailored treatment plan that may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint function
- Rehabilitative exercises to improve muscle strength and flexibility
- Muscle treatments active release, instrument assisted soft tisue manipulation or cupping therapy to release muscle tension
- Postural training to prevent future issues
- Customized exercise routines to enhance your mobility
At E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, we don’t just treat your symptoms—we address the underlying causes of your pain, ensuring that you get back to doing what you love, pain-free.
Conclusion
Mid-back pain is a common complaint, however, with the right treatment and preventative measures, you can find relief and restore your quality of life. By understanding the most common causes—poor posture, muscle strain, and spinal joint dysfunction—you’re one step closer to taking control of your health.
If you’re in Saskatoon and looking for a dedicated team of professionals to help alleviate your mid-back pain.
Click HERE to schedule a FREE discovery call to take the firs steps towards a pain-free life.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to E3 Chiropractic + Wellness! Our combination of chiropractic care, rehabilitative exercises, and wellness strategies can provide you with the comprehensive care you need.
