Typically 3–5 visits
Upper back stiffness
A tight band between the shoulder blades, a back that will not twist, or a sharp pain when you take a deep breath.
How we treat it
The thoracic spine is built to be stiff. It carries the ribs, and the joints where the ribs meet the spine make it the least mobile part of your back. That is also why it seizes: a few hours hunched over a laptop and the joints between the shoulder blades stop moving, and the muscles over them tighten to guard.
Upper back pain responds well to hands-on treatment. Mobilisation and adjustment of the stiff levels, often with you sitting and your arms crossed, restore rotation quickly, and breathing work frees the rib joints. Soft-tissue work eases the muscles between the shoulder blades.
The exercises are simple: a rotation drill you can do on the floor and an extension stretch over a rolled towel. Done daily, they are usually enough to keep it from coming back.
Common signs
- Ache or burning between the shoulder blades
- Stiffness turning to look over your shoulder
- A catch when breathing in deeply or sneezing
- Rounded posture after long days at a desk
See a doctor first if you have
- Upper back pain with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating
- Pain that is worse lying down at night and does not ease
Call 999 or go to A&E for anything sudden and severe. For urgent advice, call 111.