Thoracic Spine

The thoracic region is designed for stability and protection, not for individual vertebral level movement. There is less chance of injury, herniation or degeneration in the discs of the thoracic area. Likewise, the arthritic processes are also minimally active in the thoracic region, sparing the vertebral bones much of the deterioration found in the more mobile areas of the spine.

Injuries to the thoracic spine are usually caused by significant trauma, such as a car accident.

Thoracic Spine Details

Meanwhile, the lowest thoracic levels, and particularly the thoracolumbar juncture, might suffer some degenerative effects related to the lumbar spine.

The ribs do much to reinforce the thoracic region, adding a level of horizontal protection and support not enjoyed by any other spinal area. This bony cage is a great evolutionary design, since it encloses all of our internal organs in a well fortified organic framework.

Thoracic Spine Pain Syndromes

Kyphosis is a thoracic-specific abnormal spinal curvature which can create pain in some instances. Hypokyphosis involves a loss of normal curvature and is usually a result of a muscular spasm issue, rather than being a condition unto itself. Meanwhile, hyperkyphosis might be minor or major, potentially enacting postural and functional difficulties in moderate to severe forms and even threatening the internal organs and ability to breathe in its most extreme expressions.

Spinal-induced nerve pain conditions are less common in the thoracic region, but still exist, particularly when the muscular tissues are suspected of causing either nerve or vascular tissue compression. These circumstances often affect nerve issues in the brachial plexus, such as in the diagnosis called thoracic outlet syndrome.

Of all the spinal locations, the thoracic is blessed with the lowest reported incidence of pain and also demonstrates the lowest rate of all spinal abnormalities compared to the cervical or lumbar areas.