Upper back pain and chiropractic care
Chiropractors are trained to assess and treat general, acute and long-standing (chronic) backache, including pain in the upper back and aches around and between the shoulder blades. The upper back is the part of your spine between your neck and your lower back, where your ribs join on.
Ismail asks about your work, your desk or laptop set-up, driving and lifting, and looks at how your upper back, neck and shoulders move together. Because he visits you at home, he can see how you sit and work there too.
What happens at your home visit
Your first visit starts with questions about your upper back, your health and your history. Ismail then carries out a thorough assessment: how you move, your posture, and neurological and orthopaedic checks. He explains what he finds in plain words.
If chiropractic care is right for you, it may include chiropractic adjustments or gentle mobilisation, soft tissue work, and exercises and posture advice to use at home. He explains what he would like to do and why, and only goes ahead with your consent. If you need a different kind of care, he will tell you and suggest you see your GP. See every step of a home visit.
Get medical help first if
See your GP, call 111, or call 999 in an emergency, if you have upper back pain and:
- sudden, severe pain between your shoulder blades, or chest pain, breathlessness or pain spreading to your arm, neck or jaw (call 999)
- a high temperature, or weight loss you can't explain
- a history of cancer
- numbness or weakness in your legs, or difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels
- pain that started after a fall or an accident
Questions
Can a chiropractor help with upper back pain?
Backache, including long-standing backache and aches around the shoulder blades, is among the problems chiropractors are trained to assess and treat. Ismail starts with a thorough assessment and explains what he finds before suggesting any care.
Will you look at my desk set-up?
Yes, if it helps. A posture assessment is part of Ismail's care, with advice on how you sit, stand and move at work and at home.
Do I need to see my GP first?
No, you can book directly, without a GP referral. If you have any of the warning signs on this page, get medical help first.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what Ismail finds. At your report of findings he explains what he recommends, and you decide together.
Checked by Dr Ismail Hassan, Doctor of Chiropractic (GCC 06577), October 2026.