With aging comes a tendency for the head and the neck to shift forward from the shoulders. Over time, this tendency will make the upper back more rounded and noticeable. This area of the back is sometimes referred to as the “hump pad,” and it’s a result of the body depositing fat over the newly exposed area. more technically it’s known as an upper thoracic hump, a reference to the thoracic part of the spine.

This condition can contribute to pain in the arm, hand, neck, shoulder and back. Even more crucially, it can affect breathing. It’s been determined that patients with a pronounced upper thoracic hump — a result of what is called hyperkyphotic posture — have a higher morbidity rate from heart disease.

Chiropractic care can address this condition with a realignment of the thoracic vertebrae, the bones that make up that upper portion of the spine. People who have had the area treated have reported an easier time drawing a deep breath, and their posture and appearance are also greatly enhanced. Talk with your chiropractor about ways to keep your posture correct and to avoid the condition known as the upper thoracic hump.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.