What Causes a Thoracic (Mid-Back) Disc Herniation?

Question: What causes a thoracic disc herniation?

Answer: Multiple factors usually contribute together to the development of a thoracic disc herniation:

  1. Long-term sedentary work and physical inactivity
  2. Asymmetric loading (lifting heavy weight on one side)
  3. Trauma (sudden strain, falls)
  4. Smoking — shown to increase disc degeneration
  5. Genetic predisposition