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Besides low-back and neck pain, another common source of pain is the the thoracic spine or mid-back region.  The spine is divided into three sections, which include from top to bottom, the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine and lumbar spine (low back).  The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae and 12 ribs and is the longest region of the spine.  The thoracic spine is also the stiffest region of the spine due to its attachments with the ribs.  Because less motion occurs at the thoracic spine, this region usually suffers from less dysfunction as compared to the neck and low back.  This being said, the thoracic spine is a common source of pain, especially when poor posture is involved. 

Pain in the thoracic spine is most often experienced between the shoulder blades and is associated with positions where the shoulders and mid-back are rounded.  When the spine is not aligned properly, research has shown that it is able to support somewhere around 10 times less than in a position of proper posture.  So, if an individual begins to slouch (like most of us do), the musculature surrounding the spinal column must become active to prevent the spine from collapsing.  Over time, our muscular tissue becomes fatigued from supporting the weight of the thorax, which is the point when we either shift to a healthier position or begin to experience pain.  Keep reading, there’s more