Treatment of back pain

There are 12 vertebrae and 12 pairs of ribs in the thoracic spine, and the last 2 ribs are called floating ribs (not attached to the breastbone). Due to the presence of ribs, this area is extremely robust in order to protect vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Here there are extremely massive muscles as well, designed to keep the spine straight, thus avoiding unpleasant sensations and back pain.

Here, there are relatively fewer problems compared to the lower back and neck, however, these should not be underestimated at all. Spinal curvature disorders such as scoliosis and increased kyphosis primarily affect this area. The so-called intercostal neuralgia is also observed, in which the symptoms start at the posterior part of the back and pass forward along the chest. Some back pains resemble the symptoms associated with a heart attack, and it is the doctor who could only confirm that the cause of the pain is not the heart. Another common problem is discomfort when taking a deep breath (ribs move when breathing, and we can sense it if there is a problem). When there is stiffness and pain in the back, the adjacent parts (cervical and lumbar) might get overloaded, that is why the back has to be relaxed first in order to reduce pain in the neck and lower back region.

The most effective treatment for back pain again is manual therapy combined with massage.