Upper Back Pain and Pain Between the Shoulder Blades: Posterior Thoracic Release
Este módulo enseña la liberación del complejo torácico superior posterior, un grupo de músculos estratificados entre los omóplatos. Cuando estos músculos entran en espasmo, pueden comprimir los nervios espinales y producir dolor en la parte superior de la espalda, restricción del movimiento de las costillas y fatiga postural.
The upper thoracic region is the transition between the neck and the rib cage, and its posterior muscles hold the body upright against gravity all day. Computer work, postural strain and repetitive patterns fatigue them in layers until they lock in sustained contraction. The result is pain and stiffness between the shoulder blades, a feeling of being held or compressed through the upper back, fatigue from staying upright, restricted rotation and extension of the upper spine, and pain referred into the head, neck and shoulder. Because the sympathetic nerves to the heart, lungs and digestive organs exit here, a locked upper thoracic spine also keeps the body in a fight-or-flight state. Releasology releases the posterior upper thoracic complex directly, restoring the spine's flexibility and the freedom of the breath.
What this release relieves
- Pain and stiffness between the shoulder blades. The rhomboid and paraspinal layers in spasm ache between the blades all day. They release together.
- Upper and mid back pain. The sustained, layered contraction of the posterior thoracic muscles is the source; the ache eases as the layers let go.
- Limited rotation and extension of the upper spine. Turning to look behind you and straightening up both need thoracic movement; a locked thoracic spine allows neither.
- A feeling of compression or being held through the upper back, and fatigue staying upright. Clients describe finally being able to sit up without effort once the muscles release.
- Pain referred into the head, neck and shoulder. Upper thoracic spasm refers upward; releasing it often clears neck and shoulder pain that was being treated in the wrong place.
- Breathing restriction and fight-or-flight holding. The ribs attach here and the sympathetic chain runs here. Clients describe the breath opening and the body settling as the region releases.
La región torácica superior es una zona de transición entre la movilidad de la columna cervical y la estabilidad estructural de la caja torácica. Está diseñada para brindar soporte y adaptarse al mismo tiempo.
Cuando funciona correctamente, esta zona permite una transmisión fluida de la fuerza entre la cabeza, el cuello y el torso. Favorece el movimiento coordinado de las costillas durante la respiración y distribuye la carga de manera eficiente a través de la columna vertebral. Cuando se produce una disfunción, esta región no suele fallar en un único punto.
En cambio, se restringe progresivamente a través de múltiples capas musculares.
Los clientes suelen experimentar:
• rigidez entre los omóplatos
• Limitación de la rotación o extensión a través de la columna vertebral superior
• Sensación de compresión o de estar “sujetado” en la región torácica • Fatiga al mantener la postura erguida
No se trata de un problema localizado. Es un patrón regional de resistencia que afecta a cómo se mueve y se estabiliza toda la parte superior del cuerpo.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my upper back hurt more the longer I sit?
Because sitting at a screen asks the posterior thoracic muscles to hold the head and shoulders forward for hours. They fatigue, spasm and ache. Releasing them relieves it; changing the position keeps it relieved.
I have been told my thoracic spine is stiff. Is that the bones?
Rarely. The thoracic vertebrae are held stiff by the muscles between and beside them in sustained contraction. When the muscles release, the spine moves again.
Can upper back tension affect my breathing or digestion?
Yes. The ribs attach to the thoracic spine and the sympathetic nerves to the heart, lungs and digestive organs exit here. A locked upper back restricts the breath and holds the body in a stress state. Clients describe both easing as the region releases.
Paso 2
El problema clínico
El espasmo de cualquiera de estos músculos puede comprimir el nervio torácico largo de la parte superior de la espalda, los nervios espinales e incluso la médula espinal. Relájelos para aliviar el dolor en la parte superior de la espalda.
A client reports pain between the shoulder blades, fatigue in the upper back, and dysfunction of specific organs, during fight, or flight - that I will mention soon.
Clinically, upper thoracic dysfunction presents as:
• pain in the upper back between the shoulder blades
• pain referred into head, neck and shoulder
• loss of thoracic flexibility during flexion
• loss of flexitility during rotation
• some restriction in breathing
Palpation reveals:
• which layers of muscle are in spasm
• decreased elasticity across multiple levels
• mobility of vertebra, ribs and scapula - which helps indicate which muscles are in spasm.
e.g, rhomboid spasm causes scapula to become immobile or serratus posterior superior causes ribs to become immobile. These muscles follow the same path, so mobility tests become essential for correct identification of which muscles are in spasm.
A key feature of this area is that the restriction can be caused by any of several layers of muscles being in spasm.
From superficial to deep, these layers are as follows:
• Trapezius
• Latissimus Dorsi
• Rhomboid layer (rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, levator scapulae)
• Serratus posterior superior
• Erector Spinae (semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, splenius cervicis, splenius capitus, longissimus thoracis, longissimus cervicis, longissimus capitis, iliocostalis thoracis, iliocostalis cervicis)
• Paraspinals
Any and all of these muscles will cause pain when they are in spasm, and limit mobility. They all have different insertions, but they all cause pain in between the shoulder blades. Release each of them, via process of elimination, and begin with the most sperficial layer and work your way to the deepest layer by releasing each of these muscles one at a time. The key muscle to release first is the infraspinatus, This is a genuine "Releasology hack." Do this first and the other muscles will be much easier to release.
By releasing each of these muscles the upper back will:
• rotate more freely
• flex while bending forward without effort
• distribute force efficiently
• become delightfully pain free
• breathing will become much easier.
The sympathetic nerves for several organs will be released, helping those organs work better during fight or flight.
These organs include:
• heart
• lungs
• liver
• gall bladder
• stomach
• spleen
• pancreas
These systems become blocked during sympathetic (fight or flight) mode because the sympathetic nerves that supply them are being compressed. by the muscles in this section. Release these muscles and release these nerves. Release these nerves to restore symnpathetic function to these organs. This means, that during periods of stress, these organs won't work well when these muscles are in spasm. This modality is about more than freeing pain. Releasing these muscles that cauase pain in the upper back also restores better organ
Si el dolor de espalda persiste, una de estas capas está en espasmo. Relájelas todas y el dolor desaparecerá.
Paso 3
¿Por qué sucede esto?
La causa principal del espasmo muscular
El complejo torácico superior es particularmente vulnerable a la disfunción debido a su estructura en capas y a la constante demanda funcional.
Esta región debe:
• Proporcionar soporte a la cabeza y la columna cervical.
• estabilizar la cintura escapular
• coordinarse con la caja torácica durante la respiración
• transmitir fuerza entre la parte superior e inferior del cuerpo
Para lograrlo, múltiples capas musculares permanecen activas durante todo el día.
Cuando se produce fatiga, tensión postural o patrones repetitivos, estos músculos pueden entrar en un estado de contracción sostenida.
Debido a que la región está estratificada:
• Los músculos superficiales se tensan para estabilizar
• Los músculos más profundos compensan y se restringen.
• La tensión se acumula en múltiples niveles
Con el tiempo, las capas pierden su capacidad de moverse de forma independiente y comienzan a funcionar como una sola unidad.
Desde la perspectiva de la liberación, esto representa una interrupción en la conducción a través de las capas.
La fuerza ya no se transmite de forma eficiente. Se absorbe y queda restringida dentro del tejido.
Prana, entendido como el flujo integrado de fuerza, fluido e información, ve limitado su movimiento a través de esta región.
El resultado es un sistema que:
• mantiene la tensión
• resiste el movimiento
• y pierde su capacidad de adaptación
Por eso, este patrón resulta persistente y difícil de resolver.