Mid-Back Problems Explained

The chest is an important area, housing the vital organs and providing protection for the lungs, as well as having to be able to expand and contract to breathe.

Take a look at these X-ray of a normal thoracic (mid back) spine. Note how the mid-back spine conforms to the normal accepted curvature (the black line).

Remember those physical education lessons at school?

“Now everyone, raise your hands in the air and take a deep breath …now breathe out, and lower your arms’.

Why raise and lower your arms? Simple! Because when you are breathing normally in and out, besides the chest expanding and contracting, the mid-back spine arches back and forward. Your arms simply helps the ‘in and out’ movement of the of the chest spine!

Now take a look at these two chest spine x-rays. Compare the black (normal) and red lines. Note the excessive degree of curvature in each – do you think the mid-back spine will be able to move in and out as much?

Besides reducing the amount of air you are able to breathe in and out, a stooped mid-back spine can also be the prime cause of neck and back pain, as it causes the neck to be pushed forward.

The following two posture examinations are of the owners of the mid-back spines above – note the excessive amount of forward head positioning. In these cases, the excessive mid-back curve is causing neck pain, and will need to be corrected.

At Mawson Lakes Chiropractic, excessive thoracic curvature and it’s relationship to your posture can be identified and corrected using the latest techniques.

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