Why Does My Upper Back Feel Tight Like a Vice When I Get Stressed?
1. Introduction Severe upper back tightness during psychological stress is caused by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers an involuntary, continuous contraction of the trapezius and rhomboid muscles. This sustained isometric tension restricts local blood flow, leading to cellular hypoxia, the accumulation of metabolic waste, and a persistent sensation of vice-like constriction … Read more