Do you wonder why you suddenly have pain around your ribs when you bend or lift something heavy? This might be due to your intercostal muscle being really tight, or strained and inflamed.
Let’s talk about the ribs first. The ribs are the bones that make the thorax. Each rib is connected to the sides of the vertebra on the spine, and the ribs are connected to each other by muscles, the intercostal muscles.
This allows the ribs to move up and down like a bucket handle while you breath in and out, these movements are called inhalation and exhalation.
When the thorax takes a hit, or is exposed to great forces, like in a car accident, falling in the bathroom, or from contacts sports like hockey, football or boxing. Repetitive movements ie rowing and tennis serves can equally stress the intercostals. Even in prolonged stretches in yoga positions and dancing can also trigger it.
When this happens the intercostal muscles tighten up, to try to protect the structures and organs near to them, and that is when the spasm/strain presents itself.
It usually feels like as an acute, stabbing pain located in the upper back or in the sides of the rib cage, sometimes it is difficult to locate and tends to get worse over time.
This pain can really limit the mobility of the torso, especially in movements of rotation, tilting to the sides, and movements over the head. If it’s severe it can even limit deep breathing, and coughing. Cardio workouts tend to exacerbate the symptoms as well.
Some respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD or having a thoracic surgery (ie. heart or lung surgery) can increase the risk of developing the symptoms.
At The Performance Clinic our physiotherapists can help relieve your pain and rehabilitate you back to doing the things you love.
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Had my first appointment with Trevor, my arm feels better after the first treatment. Still some way to go but I feel very positive about the road to recovery and I couldn’t ask for a better service. Very professional. There was come confusion over payment as I’m going through Bupa that was my fault when I booked. Penny the practice manager has Emailed me this morning to resolve the issue. Top marks all round. Will definitely use the performance clinic again “when” I have my next misadventure.
Yes. Healing time varies from person to person, but in most cases symptoms improve within around 8 weeks with appropriate rest and exercises.
Please see our YouTube page for guided rehabilitation exercises.
Physiotherapy focuses on:
The goal is to help you breathe and move comfortably again.
Intercostal muscle strain can sometimes mimic other conditions.
You should monitor symptoms such as:
Your physiotherapist can help determine whether symptoms are musculoskeletal or require further medical investigation.
Organisations We Have Provided Physiotherapy Services To
