Upper back pain when breathing can be alarming if you don't know why it's there.
World renowned physiotherapy expert Sarah Key explains the causes and provides some simple solutions.
Sarah's recommendation
Getting rid of a nasty stabbing pain when breathing usually involves decompressing, or pulling the thoracic spinal segments apart.
The best way to do this is using a BackBlock.
The opening out backwards may be slightly uncomfortable but the process is VERY effective. It pulls more fluid into the intervertebral discs, stretches tight intercostal muscles and relieves the crowding on the head of the problem rib.
Each rib moves like a bucket handle lifting up and down off the rim of the bucket as we breathe in and out. The synchronous movement of all the ribs inflates and deflates chest and brings about gaseous exchange in the lungs.
Each rib must be fully mobile and springy so that breathing can be as free as possible.
Being tired, unfit, physically overwrought, or in some other way below par, can make it easier to 'rick' a rib and give you upper back pain when breathing.
If you inadvertently twist or jar a rib, the intercostal muscles will develop an automatic protective clench to hold the rib still. This is known as muscle spasm. If the muscle stays switched on for too long it makes the problem rib more rigid, so that it feels a hard prominent ridge. You will feel the rib is 'caught' and if you take a deep breath you will get a sudden grab of pain.