Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help with neck and low back pain, but what about mid back or thoracic pain? Chances are you already know the answer! The thoracic spine or the middle aspect of your back makes up the bulk of your spine. Each of the twelve thoracic vertebrae form joints with not only the vertebra above and below but also with at least one set of ribs on either side, meaning there are a lot of moving parts within this region. Unfortunately, more components results in the possibility for more to go wrong. Scoliosis, rib pain, costochondritis, and of course mid back pain are all conditions that can be found within the thoracic spine.
A recent randomized controlled trial looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic care to help alleviate pain and improve quality of life in people experiencing mid back pain (1). Patients were divided into two groups, one receiving thoracic exercises to help with their pain, the other received chiropractic adjustments and thoracic exercises. Chiropractic care and thoracic exercise was found to be more effective at improving thoracic (mid back) pain and quality of life when compared to thoracic exercises alone (1). This study was profound because it measured outcomes other than pain and found a positive relationship with adjustments. As many patients have heard before, pain is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what chiropractic is aiming to help with. Pain is often the last thing to show up in a patient and the first thing to go away. Patients in this study reported their quality of life, measured with improvement in areas of general health, physical health, emotions, energy, and social functioning.
Like all other areas of the body, the adjustment is the first step and a huge part in our care here at Advantage Chiropractic, but it is important to note that exercise was also included in the care for the group that saw significant improvements in care. If you have any questions regarding corrective or rehabilitative exercises for your recurrent mid back pain or have been putting off your adjustment for too long, give us a call!
Sources
Waqas, M. S., Karimi, H., Ahmad, A., Rafiq, S., Anwar, N., & Liaqat, S. (2023). The Effects of Spinal Manipulation Added to Exercise on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Thoracic Spinal Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. BioMed research international, 2023, 7537335. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7537335