Neck and Mid Back Pain

The neck (cervical spine), mid back (thoracic spine) and rib cage are common sources of pain. Neck pain is commonly associated with excessive motion of the joints of the neck (cervical spine) due to tightness of the mid back (thoracic spine and rib cage). Excessive motion of the neck can lead to:

1. Muscular Spasm
2. Inhibition (shutting down) of core musculature
3. Joint Dysfunction: The cervical, thoracic and rib joints becoming “stuck” at their extreme ranges of motion
4. Degenerative Joint Disease: Wear and tear of the cervical, thoracic and rib joints
5. Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear of the discs of the neck and mid back
6. Cervical Stenosis: Narrowing of the openings where the
   spinal cord and nerves pass, causing spinal cord and spinal nerve irritation
7. Cervical and Thoracic Disc Bulge: The gel inside the disc begins to work it’s way through cracks and fissures in the disc, resulting in an outward bulge of the outer wall of the disc causing inflammation and nerve irritation
8. Cervical and Thoracic Disc Herniation: As the disc bulge worsens, the outer wall of the disc begins to break down and the gel inside the disc works it’s way outside the disc, causing further inflammation and nerve irritation
9. Headaches, Dizziness and Nausea: Joint and muscular problems of the upper neck can lead to compression of the nerves and blood vessels that supply the head, causing severe headaches, dizziness and nausea.

The treatment goals for each of the conditions is similar

1. Diminish symptoms through pain reducing exercises specific to each patient
   
   
2. Identify and treat the underlying source of the problem
   1. Specific mid back tightness patterns
   2. Specific core weakness patterns
   3. Abnormal functional movement patterns specific to each patient’s work, sport or activity of daily living
      
      
3. Prevention: Each patient is instructed in a preventative home exercise program to minimize the chance that the problem will recur