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Causes

 

Some possible causes for neck & upper back pain include:

 

Trauma or Sudden Injury (Spine Health, 2016)

  • Car accident, fall
     

Muscle or Soft Tissue Problems (Spine Universe, 2016)

  • Poor posture (ie. sitting with a rounded back, shoulders hunched forward)

  • Improper lifting techniques

    • Proper body mechanics is important to protect your body
       

Muscle Irritation (Spine Health, 2016)

  • De-conditioning (lack of strength)

  • Overuse Injuries (repetitive motions)
     

Joint Dysfunction (Spine Health, 2016)

  • Dysfunction in the joints that connect the ribs to the thoracic spine
     

Other Upper Back Pain Causes:
 

  • Degenerated disc (Spine Health, 2016)

  • Herniated disc (Spine Health, 2016)

    • Disc can pinch nerves to cause pain

  • Infections (Spine Universe, 2016)

    • Can cause compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves causing pain

  • Osteoporosis(Spine Universe, 2016)

    • Condition that makes your bones weak

    • Weak vertebrae make your muscles, ligaments and tendons work harder because they cannot support your weight as well

  • Kyphosis(Spine Universe, 2016)

    • Condition where your thoracic spine curves excessively outward

  • Scoliosis(Spine Universe, 2016)

    • An unusual ‘S’ curve of the spine

  • Spinal Stenosis (Back Pain, 2015)

    • Narrowing of spinal canal which puts pressure on spinal nerves causing pain

  • Osteoarthritis (Back Pain, 2015)

    • Arthritis that breaks down the cartilage which cushions the spinal joints

    • Affects the spine causing muscles, tendons or ligaments to become strained leading to back or neck pain

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (Back Pain, 2015)

    • Causes the joints to become stiff, painful or swollen

  • Fibromyalgia (Back Pain, 2015)

    • Pain and stiffness, especially in the neck and upper back

 

References

 

Back pain. UW Medicine Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. [Internet]. [Place Unknown]: Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington: 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.orthop.washington.edu/?q=patient-care/articles/arthritis/back-pain.html

 

Causes of upper back pain. Spine-Health. Trusted Information for Back Pain [Internet]. [Place Unknown]: 2016 Retrieved from: http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/upper-back-pain/causes-upper-back-pain

 

Causes or upper back pain. Spine Universe. [Internet]. [Place Unknown]: Vertical Health, LLC: 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/back-pain/upper-back-pain/causes-upper-back-pain

 

 

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