Middle Back Pain Exercises
8 stretches for the middle back
- Seated twist.
- Child’s Pose.
- Thread the Needle.
- Cat-Cow Pose.
- Latissimus dorsi stretch.
- Cobra Pose.
- Bridge.
- Passive backbend.
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Contents
Why does the middle of my back hurt so bad?
Many things can cause upper and middle back pain. These include poor posture; overuse or injury of the muscles, ligaments, or discs that support the spine; a vertebra fracture; pressure on the spinal nerves from problems such as a herniated disc; and osteoarthritis.
Will middle back pain go away?
Middle back pain is a common problem and while it can disrupt your life, it doesn’t usually last long. Most people start to get better within just two to four weeks. There are plenty of treatments that can help during this time, so you can stay active and live life to the full.
Should you stretch middle back pain?
Certain stretches can help relieve mid-back pain or stiffness and improve flexibility. Examples include the seated twist and various yoga poses, such as the child’s pose. Back pain, especially short-term pain, is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States.
- short, sharp pains
- a dull, constant ache
- muscle tightness or stiffness
- a reduced range of motion
The following eight stretches are easy to do at home or in the office, and they can help relieve mid back pain, loosen tight muscles, and improve mobility. Postures that involve a lot of sitting with hunched shoulders can cause the mid back muscles to tighten, limiting the spine’s ability to twist. Credit: Video by James Farrell To perform the seated twist:
- Sit tall with legs crossed or straight out in front while pulling the shoulder blades together and down.
- Place the right hand on the outside of the left knee and place the left hand behind the back to provide support. Slowly twist to the left side.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds and then return to center.
- Repeat on the other side.
Child’s Pose is a simple yoga pose. It allows the spine to elongate passively while the person rests over their knees. Credit: Active Body. Creative Mind. To perform the Child’s Pose:
- Start in a kneeling position.
- Spread the knees apart to a comfortable point. Then fold the body forwards, bringing the chest down towards the knees.
- If possible, bring the forehead to the floor, with the arms stretched out in front. The hands should gently rest on the floor, keeping the arms straight.
- Rest here for 20–30 seconds.
- Use the hands to gently return to an upright position.
Thread the Needle is a yoga pose that stretches the sides of the body, including the latissimus dorsi. This stretch can also help loosen the muscles of the upper back. To get the most benefit, focus on keeping the arms extended outwards and maintaining a stretch that is comfortable, not painful. To perform Thread the Needle: Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind.
- Start on hands and knees, with the knees directly below the hips and the feet in line with the knees.
- Keeping the hips, knees, and feet still, walk the hands out in front until they are below the shoulders.
- Take the right arm and pass it under the left arm while rotating the chest. The right hand should rest on the floor, palm up.
- Lower the right shoulder as far as possible while gently placing the right side of the head onto the floor. Look past the armpit toward the ceiling.
- Hold this position for 20–30 seconds.
- Push upward, using the right arm to gently return to the starting position before repeating on the other side.
Like the Child’s Pose, the Cat-Cow Pose is another gentle yoga exercise. It helps stretch and loosen the shoulders and the muscles that run the length of the spine. To perform the Cat-Cow Pose: Credit: Gif by Dima Bazak
- Start on hands and knees, with the knees below the hips and the wrists below the shoulders. The spine should be in a neutral position.
- Breathe in, let the stomach drop toward the ground, and stick the buttocks out. Lift the head and shoulders, push the chest out, and look forward. This is the Cow Pose.
- Breathe out and rch the back upward like a cat. Tilt the pelvis toward the ribs, drawing the shoulder blades away from each other and the belly away from the ground. Let the head drop toward the floor.
- Shift between these two poses 5–10 times.
The downward-facing dog pose is another yoga pose that engages the core, and back muscles. Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind. To perform the downward-facing dog pose:
- Start on all fours with the hands shoulder-width apart and the shoulders above the wrist.
- Lift the knees and drive through the forefoot to extend the legs straight, allowing the hips to rise.
- Push through the hands and fully extend into an inverted-V shape.
- Hold the pose and return to the starting position in a controlled descent.
This yoga pose focuses on active back bending. People with mid back pain may find that they cannot go very far at first. Back bending helps stretch the chest while strengthening the spine muscles. To perform the Cobra Pose: Credit: Images by Dima Bazak
- Lay face-down on the floor. Extend the legs, with the tops of the feet resting on the floor.
- Place the hands under the shoulders, with the fingertips pointing forward. Bend the elbows and tuck the arms into the body.
- Engage the buttocks and leg muscles to help push the legs and feet into the floor.
- Breathe out. Push up, using the arms, to gently lift the head, then the chest from the floor.
- If possible, bend the back more by straightening the arms and lifting the chest further from the floor. Some people are not able to do this — only go as far as is comfortable.
- Hold this position for 20–30 seconds. Then, gently return to the floor and repeat the stretch two to four times.
The bridge can strengthen the muscles that run along the spine as well as those in the buttocks and abdomen. Performing this stretch regularly can help a person maintain an upright posture while sitting or standing. To perform the bridge: Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind
- Lie on the back with the knees bent.
- Rest the flat on the floor, as close to the buttocks as possible.
- Squeezing the buttocks, raise the pelvis toward the ceiling, while rolling the torso upward until the back is off the ground.
- Hold for 5 seconds and continue to focus on squeezing the buttocks.
- Gently lower the torso, slowly letting each vertebra touch the floor until the back rests flat again.
This simple pose can bring relief after sitting at a desk all day. It stretches the scalene neck muscles, the serratus muscles, and the chest. The passive backbend involves placing a supporting object beneath the back, such as a back roller, a foam noodle, or a rolled up towel or yoga mat. To perform the exercise:
- Place the roll on the floor.
- Lie on the roll so that it rests beneath the shoulder blades, near the middle of the back. Place something under the head if it also needs elevation.
- Bring the arms away from the body, resting at a 45-degree angle.
- Hold this position for 1–2 minutes.
Back pain is a common problem that can have serious effects on general health and wellbeing. Regularly stretching the middle back can loosen and strengthen muscles to help improve posture and reduce back pain.
How long does middle back strain last?
With appropriate conservative treatment, mid-back strain is usually curable within 6 weeks. Frequent recurrence of symptoms may result in a chronic problem; appropriately addressing the problem the first time decreases the frequency of recurrence.
Does middle back pain mean kidney problems?
On call – Q. I have nagging back pain on my right side and I worry it might be my kidney. How can you tell when back pain is a problem with the kidney? A. People commonly think their back pain comes from their kidney. But it’s more likely that your discomfort is due to muscle spasm or strain or a spine-related problem.
The kidneys are located higher than most people realize (see image). So back pain, one of the most common problems that sends people to their doctors, is rarely due to kidney trouble. When pain is related to a kidney issue, not only is the pain higher up in the back, but the symptoms are also different.
For instance, a kidney stone that gets lodged in the ureter (the tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder) causes waves of intense pain rather than the steady ache of typical low back pain. And a person with a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) almost always has a fever along with flank pain.
If your pain is localized to the area of the kidney as shown in the illustration, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will tap on your flank to see if it is tender. He or she then will likely order a urine test to look for red and white blood cells and a blood test to make sure the kidneys are functioning normally.
Based on these results, your doctor might also recommend an ultrasound or CT scan. Image: © Ingram Publishing/Getty Images As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
How do you know if your back pain is inflammatory?
What is inflammatory back pain? – The key characteristics of inflammatory back pain are:
Early onset (typically under 45 years old) Localized pain in the lower back and/or buttocks Chronic pain, meaning pain that lasts longer than 3 months Pain that occurs at night and/or early in the morning Pain that improves with movement and exercise Pain that improves after taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen) Insidious onset of symptoms (pain that comes on slowly and is not obvious at first)
Other symptoms that may come with inflammatory back pain include fatigue, abdominal pain, heel/ankle pain, and inflammation of the eye.
How long does a middle back muscle strain take to heal?
With appropriate conservative treatment, mid-back strain is usually curable within 6 weeks. Frequent recurrence of symptoms may result in a chronic problem; appropriately addressing the problem the first time decreases the frequency of recurrence.
Should you stretch middle back pain?
Certain stretches can help relieve mid-back pain or stiffness and improve flexibility. Examples include the seated twist and various yoga poses, such as the child’s pose. Back pain, especially short-term pain, is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States.
- short, sharp pains
- a dull, constant ache
- muscle tightness or stiffness
- a reduced range of motion
The following eight stretches are easy to do at home or in the office, and they can help relieve mid back pain, loosen tight muscles, and improve mobility. Postures that involve a lot of sitting with hunched shoulders can cause the mid back muscles to tighten, limiting the spine’s ability to twist. Credit: Video by James Farrell To perform the seated twist:
- Sit tall with legs crossed or straight out in front while pulling the shoulder blades together and down.
- Place the right hand on the outside of the left knee and place the left hand behind the back to provide support. Slowly twist to the left side.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds and then return to center.
- Repeat on the other side.
Child’s Pose is a simple yoga pose. It allows the spine to elongate passively while the person rests over their knees. Credit: Active Body. Creative Mind. To perform the Child’s Pose:
- Start in a kneeling position.
- Spread the knees apart to a comfortable point. Then fold the body forwards, bringing the chest down towards the knees.
- If possible, bring the forehead to the floor, with the arms stretched out in front. The hands should gently rest on the floor, keeping the arms straight.
- Rest here for 20–30 seconds.
- Use the hands to gently return to an upright position.
Thread the Needle is a yoga pose that stretches the sides of the body, including the latissimus dorsi. This stretch can also help loosen the muscles of the upper back. To get the most benefit, focus on keeping the arms extended outwards and maintaining a stretch that is comfortable, not painful. To perform Thread the Needle: Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind.
- Start on hands and knees, with the knees directly below the hips and the feet in line with the knees.
- Keeping the hips, knees, and feet still, walk the hands out in front until they are below the shoulders.
- Take the right arm and pass it under the left arm while rotating the chest. The right hand should rest on the floor, palm up.
- Lower the right shoulder as far as possible while gently placing the right side of the head onto the floor. Look past the armpit toward the ceiling.
- Hold this position for 20–30 seconds.
- Push upward, using the right arm to gently return to the starting position before repeating on the other side.
Like the Child’s Pose, the Cat-Cow Pose is another gentle yoga exercise. It helps stretch and loosen the shoulders and the muscles that run the length of the spine. To perform the Cat-Cow Pose: Credit: Gif by Dima Bazak
- Start on hands and knees, with the knees below the hips and the wrists below the shoulders. The spine should be in a neutral position.
- Breathe in, let the stomach drop toward the ground, and stick the buttocks out. Lift the head and shoulders, push the chest out, and look forward. This is the Cow Pose.
- Breathe out and rch the back upward like a cat. Tilt the pelvis toward the ribs, drawing the shoulder blades away from each other and the belly away from the ground. Let the head drop toward the floor.
- Shift between these two poses 5–10 times.
The downward-facing dog pose is another yoga pose that engages the core, and back muscles. Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind. To perform the downward-facing dog pose:
- Start on all fours with the hands shoulder-width apart and the shoulders above the wrist.
- Lift the knees and drive through the forefoot to extend the legs straight, allowing the hips to rise.
- Push through the hands and fully extend into an inverted-V shape.
- Hold the pose and return to the starting position in a controlled descent.
This yoga pose focuses on active back bending. People with mid back pain may find that they cannot go very far at first. Back bending helps stretch the chest while strengthening the spine muscles. To perform the Cobra Pose: Credit: Images by Dima Bazak
- Lay face-down on the floor. Extend the legs, with the tops of the feet resting on the floor.
- Place the hands under the shoulders, with the fingertips pointing forward. Bend the elbows and tuck the arms into the body.
- Engage the buttocks and leg muscles to help push the legs and feet into the floor.
- Breathe out. Push up, using the arms, to gently lift the head, then the chest from the floor.
- If possible, bend the back more by straightening the arms and lifting the chest further from the floor. Some people are not able to do this — only go as far as is comfortable.
- Hold this position for 20–30 seconds. Then, gently return to the floor and repeat the stretch two to four times.
The bridge can strengthen the muscles that run along the spine as well as those in the buttocks and abdomen. Performing this stretch regularly can help a person maintain an upright posture while sitting or standing. To perform the bridge: Credit: Gif by Active Body. Creative Mind
- Lie on the back with the knees bent.
- Rest the flat on the floor, as close to the buttocks as possible.
- Squeezing the buttocks, raise the pelvis toward the ceiling, while rolling the torso upward until the back is off the ground.
- Hold for 5 seconds and continue to focus on squeezing the buttocks.
- Gently lower the torso, slowly letting each vertebra touch the floor until the back rests flat again.
This simple pose can bring relief after sitting at a desk all day. It stretches the scalene neck muscles, the serratus muscles, and the chest. The passive backbend involves placing a supporting object beneath the back, such as a back roller, a foam noodle, or a rolled up towel or yoga mat. To perform the exercise:
- Place the roll on the floor.
- Lie on the roll so that it rests beneath the shoulder blades, near the middle of the back. Place something under the head if it also needs elevation.
- Bring the arms away from the body, resting at a 45-degree angle.
- Hold this position for 1–2 minutes.
Back pain is a common problem that can have serious effects on general health and wellbeing. Regularly stretching the middle back can loosen and strengthen muscles to help improve posture and reduce back pain.