Dylan A.
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Chronic Muscle Tension
SYMPTOM
Chronic Muscle Tension
SITUATION
Dylan A., a 39-year-old systems engineer, originally came to KIRO with chronic muscle tension in his upper back and shoulders. His day-to-day life consisted of long hours on a laptop, monitoring systems from control rooms, and overseeing equipment installations across multiple sites. Much of this time was spent hunched over screens or standing in one position.
By 2pm every day, Dylan felt a constant tight, heavy sensation between his shoulder blades that made it difficult to sit comfortably or stay focused. Long days often ended with stiffness that lingered into the evening, affecting his sleep and making workouts feel strained rather than energizing. Even on weekends, his upper back rarely felt relaxed.
Dylan tried massage therapy, stretching, and occasional anti-inflammatory medication, but while massage helped briefly, the tension always returned within a few days. Wanting to understand why his muscles stayed tight despite his efforts, and looking for a solution that didn’t rely on constant short-term fixes, Dylan decided to seek chiropractic care.
TREATMENT
Care began with a comprehensive evaluation by KIRO’s doctors. The exam revealed restricted movement through the upper thoracic spine, persistent muscle tension across the upper back and shoulders, and a forward-rounded posture commonly seen in individuals who alternate between screen-based work and prolonged standing. Movement testing showed that the muscles in Dylan’s upper back were overworking to compensate for limited spinal motion.
To better understand how stress was affecting his body, our doctors performed a nervous system scan. The scan showed elevated tension levels in the lower neck and upper back regions, consistent with tightness felt during low-demand activities.
Based on these findings, our doctors proposed a 3 month care plan focused on improving thoracic mobility, reducing nervous system stress, and helping the muscles return to a more balanced state. Care included targeted chiropractic adjustments to restore motion in the upper back, paired with diaphragmatic breathing to reduce tension and improve coordination between the nervous system and postural muscles.
As care progressed, Dylan was guided through thoracic extension exercises and was instructed to take short walking breaks to interrupt static posture during long workdays. Where appropriate, our doctors added gentle soft-tissue work and progressive strengthening so his muscles could stop overreacting to everyday activity and better support sustained postures.
Progress was tracked through repeat movement assessments and follow-up nervous system scans at the end of the first, second, and third month. Scans showed progressively decreasing tension and improved mobility over time. As these improvements became noticeable, visit frequency was reduced and care shifted toward long-term stability and prevention.
By the end of the care plan, Dylan demonstrated improved thoracic motion, reduced upper back muscle tension, and balanced nervous system readings across the upper spine.
RESULT
During his care at KIRO, Dylan experienced a noticeable reduction in chronic upper back tightness. He was able to get through long workdays without the constant heaviness in his shoulders, sit and stand more comfortably during site visits, and return to workouts without lingering stiffness.
Dylan now maintains his progress with weekly chiropractic care and simple movement strategies built into his day. He states his upper back finally feels relaxed and resilient. He explains that chiropractic care has become not only an important part of his lifestyle, but something he looks forward to every week.
DURATION
3 months
