The CT junction can be a common area for pain in many people. First off, the CT Junction is the area/joint where your cervical spine meets your thoracic spine: in other words, the area where the base of your neck meets your upper back.

It’s a transition point of your spine, and as a result, is a fairly common area for pain and dysfunction.

As you may know, good posture habits can be very helpful in many different areas for us, and our CT junction is no different. So for those of us who do sit at a desk, or are in the same position for long periods of time, the CT junction may be an area of pain or discomfort because of this.

Here are some of the more common symptoms for problems at the CT junction:

• Pain and/or tightness from base or side of neck
• Pain with turning head side to side
• Decrease in neck Range of Motion
• Upper Trap pain and tension
• Tightness with looking down
• Pinch or possibly tingling between shoulder blades

Luckily, there are multiple ways that Physical Therapy can help you. These are some possible treatments where Apex Physical Therapy may be able to help:

• Postural exercises
• Shoulder/upper back strengthening
• Stretching
• Joint mobilization/manipulation
• ASTYM or Dry Needling