Upper back pain receives less research attention than neck pain and low back pain. A systematic review of 33 studies pointed out that the thoracic spine has received less attention in clinical, genetic and epidemiological research, even though pain in this region can be equally disabling.
Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent neurological disorder worldwide. Global Burden of Disease data show that the absolute number of people with TTH reached 2.01 billion in 2021, 56.4% more than in 1990, and that global prevalence peaked at around 32.5 years of age.
Population-based incidence figures come from a 1976–1990 survey in Rochester, Minnesota, which identified 561 patients aged 13 to 91 years.
In my clinical experience, SI joint pain is a diagnosis that is often given quickly and with confidence. Pain on one side of the lower back, near the dimple above the buttock, is often attributed to the sacroiliac (SI) joint.
The piriformis muscle is often discussed as a possible source of buttock pain and sciatica-type symptoms, and piriformis stretches are a familiar part of many rehabilitation routines.
Neck pain is a highly prevalent condition that leads to considerable pain, disability and economic cost. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 analysis, neck pain affected 203 million people globally in 2020, with an age-standardised prevalence of 2,450 per 100,000 population.
Poor posture is often blamed for neck pain, headaches, and the familiar “nerd-neck” appearance of a head drifting forward in front of the shoulders.
In clinical practice, patients with pain around the upper back and thoracic spine sometimes describe the problem as a “facet joint lock.” Some seek chiropractic treatment, while others simply try to crack or manipulate the area themselves and feel that it helps.
Piriformis syndrome is generally used to describe buttock pain and sciatica-type symptoms attributed to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve in the region of the piriformis muscle.
If you have searched online for the cause of low back or buttock pain, you have probably encountered the idea that your sacroiliac (SI) joint has slipped “out of place” and needs to be manually put back.
The relationship between squatting and back pain is one of the most frequently misunderstood topics in musculoskeletal medicine.
