Upper Back Pain

All About Upper Back Pain

Peer-Reviewed Article

Upper back pain stems from various causes, including muscle strain, poor posture, or underlying medical conditions.

Thoracic spine with the thoracic vertebra highlighted from T1-T12.

Overview

Medical illustration of the upper back and neck. The trapezius muscle is highlighted

Understanding Upper Back and Chest Pain

Medical illustration of a skeleton. The shoulders and arms are highlighted in red indicating pain, numbness or tingling.

Is Your Upper Back Pain Related to Your Arm Numbness?

Thoracic spine with the thoracic vertebra highlighted from T1-T12.

All About Upper Back Pain

Medical illustration of intercostal muscle anatomy

Upper Back Pain from Intercostal Muscle Strain

Video

Thoracic herniated disc leaking inflammatory proteins

Causes of Upper Back Pain Video

Posterior view of the upper body with the shoulder blades.

Causes of Shoulder Blade Pain Video

Symptoms

Medical illustration of a skeleton

Upper Back Pain Symptoms

Doctor examining an X-ray of a patient's lungs and spine.

Intercostal Muscle Strain Symptoms and Diagnosis

Causes and Diagnosis

Physical therapist explaining the upper spine to a patient

Diagnosing Upper Back Pain

Posterior view of upper body with pain highlighted in the shoulders

What Causes Upper Back and Chest Pain?

Medical illustration of intercostal muscle anatomy

Causes of Intercostal Muscle Strain

Upper back highlighting the muscles

What Causes Upper Left Back Pain?

7 Possible Causes of Pain Under Your Shoulder Blade

7 Possible Causes of Pain Under Your Shoulder Blade Infographic

Medical illustration of the anatomy of the upper back

7 Possible Causes of Pain Under Your Shoulder Blade

7 Causes of Pain in the Upper Left Back

7 Causes of Pain in the Upper Left Back Infographic

Intercostal muscle anatomy

Causes of Upper Back Pain

Nerve impingement from a herniated disc in the thoracic spine

How a Herniated Disc in Your Upper Back Causes Pain, Numbness, and Weakness

Treatment

Physical therapist manipulating patient's shoulder

Relieving the Pain Under Your Shoulder Blade

Women giving man massage

Early Treatments for Upper Back Pain

Electotherapy unit attached to a patient's shoulder.

Medical Treatments for Upper Back Pain

Yoga class participants doing a forward bend.

Treating Intercostal Muscle Strain

Woman doing cobra pose for upper and middle back pain

5 Exercises for Upper and Middle Back Pain

More on this Topic

Cross section view of the T-10 vertebrae

Medical illustration showing the thoracic spine

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illustration of the c7-T1 vertebrae also called the cervicothoracic junction

Thoracic Vertebrae and the Rib Cage