Upper back pain

Pain in the upper back is felt in the area from the neck down to the lower back, or more simply, the area between or below the shoulder blades. Pain in the upper part of the back can affect other body parts, which in turn can also start causing symptoms.

Anatomy of the upper back

The upper back consists of 12 vertebrae and 12 pairs of ribs. These ribs are attached to the vertebrae of the upper back. Due to the ribs, the upper back is much less mobile than the neck and the lower back.

The vertebrae of the upper back together form the thoracic spine. The muscles of the thoracic spine are supplied from the neck. The nerves that exit in the upper back supply the organs in the chest cavity.

The ribs, the alignment of the spine, the muscles, and the organs can all play a role in upper back pain. Normally, everything works neatly together, but if there is a problem somewhere, other parts can also be disrupted.

The ribs should spread slightly with each inhalation and come back together with each exhalation. In this way, many small joints are set in motion just by breathing alone. The spreading of the ribs ensures that the lungs can expand with each inhalation.

The shoulder blades glide over the upper back. However, because the shoulder blade is part of the shoulder, it belongs to the shoulder rather than the upper back. This shows how much influence everything has on each other.

Pain symptoms

With a painful upper back, heart problems must first be ruled out, as these can cause pain between the shoulder blades in combination with chest pain. Heart problems are often provoked by exertion.

Pain between the shoulder blades more often points to a problem with the ribs, the vertebrae, breathing, or pain originating from muscles that are supplied from the neck.

If ribs or vertebrae do not have the proper mobility, you can develop upper back pain because movement has to take place in a forced manner. In this case, a physical therapist can help improve mobility.

In addition, posture is of great importance for the upper back. The rounding of the upper back has a direct influence on the neck, and the neck, in turn, supplies the muscles of the upper back.

The alignment of the upper back also determines the position of the shoulder blades, which in turn form the base of the shoulder and arm. An incorrect posture can therefore cause upper back pain, but also pain toward the shoulders.

Acute pain can be caused by trauma (accident or fall), in which a rib is bruised or broken. A broken or bruised rib often causes very troublesome pain during (deep) breathing or coughing.

What is causing your upper back symptoms?

Do you have upper back pain and want to know what is going on? Then it is advisable to have a physical therapist examine your upper back. In our directory of physical therapists you will find a physical therapy practice that can help you further.

Do you prefer to investigate first yourself? Then you can get a first indication of your symptoms by taking the online physical therapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain in your back and answer the questions. You will then immediately receive an overview of back problems that you may be suffering from.

Upper back conditions

The overview below shows the most important conditions that can cause upper back pain. Click on the name of a condition to read more about the cause, symptoms, treatment, and underlying anatomy.