Aching mid-back with tired triceps

People complain of an area of aching pain at the base of the shoulder blade. At times, this extends down the triceps and into the hand. They can’t reach it and may ask to trace the spot on my back or on the illustration that I have on the wall. It has a constant ache that suddenly becomes more painful on certain movements. For example, it can be surprisingly painful if a dog jerks on the leash or if they are using their arm to support their weight as they come down a ladder.

The referral down the arm is not often present. Usually, it flares up when a person is weight training or rowing. Also, it can get achy down the arm during a pulling exercise like raking, weeding, or water skiing.

This referral in the arm makes the triceps ache with fatigue quickly during pullovers, lat pull-downs, or pull-ups and tasks like raking. It seems odd to the person that their triceps ache while doing lat exercises.

Often Overlooked

They often fail to find relief from bodywork. The practitioner often overlooks this muscle which is awkward to treat. As well, the referral down the arm is similar to nerve root pain from C8.

See your Doctor…

The aching in the back creates concern about kidneys or gallbladder as they also refer pain in this area. A medical doctor should check this concern, especially if there are other indications.

This is usually aggravated by a forward pull that overstretched the upper latissimus dorsi. Ok, you probably aren’t a beefy water ski trickster. It is more likely to be strained by:

• a dog on a leash
• a kid jerking your arm
• jerking while rowing
• raking
• weeding
• trying to unstick a door.

Occasionally this is caused by an upward jerk, but that usually activates other trigger points.

Musculoskeletal Anatomy

About these Illustrations…

This broad, flat muscle attaches to almost every bone in the axial skeleton below T6 as well as the pelvis. Read more in this post about latissimus dorsi anatomy.

Clinically Proven
Self-Care Strategies

Self-Care Posts have common sections to make them easy to follow and understand:

• Activities to Avoid or Change
• Strategies for Quick Relief
• Stretches and Exercise for Longer-Lasting Relief
• Yoga Corner

Better Bodywork
Through Shared Expertise

Therapy Notes provide details for cranial, spinal, and local joint work. These notes also link to a traditional neuromuscular protocol.

By treating integrative components first, direct work on the muscle becomes less intense while providing longer-lasting relief.

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