Why does my mid-back pain hurt more when I take a deep breath?

The ribs attach directly to the thoracic joints in your mid-back. When these joints become inflamed or irritated, movements that expand the rib cage—like deep breathing, twisting, or arching—pull on those joints and surrounding ligaments, making the pain sharper with each breath.

Should I see a chiropractor for mid-back pain?

Yes. Mid-thoracic pain responds very well to chiropractic care. Gentle adjustments help restore motion to the restricted joints, reduce pressure on irritated structures, and calm muscle spasm. When combined with soft-tissue therapy and specific exercises, most patients experience faster and longer-lasting relief than with rest or medication alone.

When is mid-back pain a sign of something serious?

Mid-back pain should be evaluated urgently if it is accompanied by chest pain not related to movement, shortness of breath, unexplained sweating, pain that radiates into the jaw or left arm, significant weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control. These can indicate medical conditions outside of the spine and should be assessed in an emergency or medical setting.

How long does it take to feel better with chiropractic treatment for mid-back pain?

For most uncomplicated mid-back injuries, patients begin to notice improvement within the first one to three chiropractic visits. As joint motion is restored and inflammation calms down, pain levels decrease and mobility improves. Full recovery and stabilization usually occur over several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury, work demands, and adherence to home exercises.

Mid Back Pain Relief in Olathe | Woodroof Chiropractic

Educational illustration of the thoracic spine highlighting the T4 and T5 vertebrae with labeled anatomy for mid-back pain explanation.

If you’re dealing with mid-back pain in Olathe, you know how suddenly it can stop your day. Many patients come into our office describing pain between the shoulder blades that makes it difficult to twist, bend, or even take a deep breath. As a chiropractor in Olathe, I recently treated a patient whose pain started while twisting and arching backward during a big move — a common mechanism we see in the mid-thoracic spine. Their pain centered around the T4–T5 area, right where the neck meets the mid-back and the rib joints attach.

Mid-back pain often occurs when the thoracic joints become irritated or compressed during lifting or twisting. The facet joints in the mid-back are small but very sensitive, and when they become inflamed, they can trigger sharp pain, muscle spasm, and restricted movement. These joints also attach to the ribs, which is why patients often feel pain with deep breathing, reaching, or rotating their torso.

Why this problem happens often comes down to a combination of joint irritation, muscle tension, rib joint inflammation, and poor lifting mechanics. When the thoracic discs and facet joints are stressed during twisting or arching movements, they can lock up and trigger protective muscle guarding. Over time, this creates stiffness, altered posture, and compensations in the neck and lower back. Patients with prolonged sitting posture or weaker mid-back stability are even more prone to this pattern.

Common symptoms patients notice include sharp mid-back pain between the shoulder blades, pain when twisting or rotating, pain that worsens with deep breathing, aching in the rhomboids or traps, stiffness after sitting too long, pain when arching backward, rib pain wrapping around the chest, muscle knots that keep returning, discomfort after lifting kids or groceries, radiating pain into the neck, difficulty taking a full breath, and tension that doesn’t improve with stretching alone — symptoms very similar to what we treat on our neck pain page.

Clinical patterns I see in the office include pain after sitting at a computer, mid-back pain that spikes during lifting or moving furniture, pain with overhead reaching, headaches beginning in the upper thoracic spine, stiffness after long drives, discomfort after workouts that involve rowing or pushing, pain that improves after moving around, or sharp pain with breathing or sneezing. Many patients also describe feeling like the area “needs to pop” but won’t move on its own.

How chiropractic helps is by restoring motion to the thoracic joints, reducing pressure on the facet joints, calming muscle spasms, and improving overall mobility. Our gentle chiropractic care helps unlock restricted segments, while spinal decompression therapy reduces stress on the discs and surrounding soft tissues. Hydromassage therapy helps relax the deep postural muscles of the mid-back, and our guided exercise & stretch routine improves thoracic stability and rib mobility. For patients concerned about insurance coverage, our insurance page provides details on accepted plans.

Our treatment approach at Woodroof Chiropractic includes chiropractic adjustments, spinal/vertebral decompression, hydromassage, intersegmental traction, targeted stretching, strengthening exercises for the thoracic spine, breathing mechanics training, and posture/sleep coaching. This combination reduces inflammation, restores mobility, and helps stabilize the area long-term. Most patients begin noticing improvement within the first few visits.

Frequently asked questions include:
• Why does mid-back pain hurt more when I breathe in?
Because the ribs attach directly to the thoracic joints, inflammation in those joints creates pain with breathing, twisting, and arching.
• Should I see a chiropractor for this?
Yes — mid-thoracic pain responds extremely well to chiropractic adjustments and mobility work.
• When is it serious?
If you have numbness, unrelenting chest pain not related to movement, or shortness of breath, you should be evaluated immediately.
• How long until I feel better?
Many patients feel improvement within 1–3 visits, with full mobility often returning within one to two weeks.

If you’re dealing with mid-back pain and want relief that lasts, we can help. Call our Olathe chiropractic office today at 913-735-6351 or click Schedule Your Visit to get started.