Whether your upper back and neck pain is new to you or something you have been dealing with for along time, the constant discomfort can make it difficult for you to work and participate in activities that you enjoy. Some of the causes of upper back and neck pain include:
Poor Posture: Sitting up straight isn’t just a sign of good manners; it’s a way to protect yourself from unnecessary neck pain and headaches. Hunching over and slouching can gradually affect the alignment of your spine resulting in pain and discomfort.
Stress: When you are experiencing periods of stress in your life, you could be unconsciously tensing your neck and shoulder muscles without even realizing it. The trapezius muscle is particularly vulnerable to this.
Subluxations: The cervical spine is naturally unstable. This, combined with the stress of holding your head up each day can lead to subluxations in your cervical vertebrae. If you notice that your head appears tilted or one shoulder seems higher than the other, subluxation may be the source of your neck and upper back pain.
Disc Herniation: When the fluid-filled discs found in between your cervical vertebrae begin to bulge, they can put pressure on the nerves that travel to your neck and back and cause pain.
Injuries: Car accidents and high-impact sports can cause injuries such as whiplash that can cause tenderness and pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back.
Chiropractic adjustments are a great way to relieve upper back and neck pain by equipping your body to heal itself. By improving nerve function and blood flow through spinal manipulation, you can experience natural pain relief rather than taking pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications.