Rib pain occurs within the chest area and is often sharp, dull, or achy. There are many associated causes of rib pain, such as chest injuries, rib fractures, muscle spasms, swollen rib cartilage, or lung inflammation.

This type of pain can be frightening at first. Most victims often rush to the emergency room to seek immediate attention, while others turn to anti-inflammatory painkillers. Regardless of the situation, seeking medical attention from certified professionals is always advisable.

One treatment method you can consider is chiropractic care. In this guide, we explore how chiropractic care helps reduce rib pain and its common manifestations.

The Rib Cage Structure

The rib cage comprises the ribs, costal cartilage, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae. The primary function of the rib cage is to assist respiration, protect thoracic cavity organs, and support the upper extremities. The ribs become elevated when you breathe in, and depressed after you breathe out.

Pain in the ribs can happen because of various reasons. For example, people who have suffered a heart attack, lung inflammation, or cancer can experience this pain from time to time. Acute direct damage is another common cause, as is soft tissue trouble. The intercostal muscles can also become aggravated because of excessive coughing or sneezing. People experience these symptoms after having a cold or the flu.

The basic anatomy of the rib structure is such that the ribs connect to the thoracic spine through two types of joints: the costocorporeal and costotransverse joints. Costocorporeal joints connect the ribs to two adjacent vertebrae, whereas costotransverse joints connect them to the transverse process. When a soft tissue strain occurs, you will most likely experience sharp shooting pain. This pain can be described as an ice pick shooting through the chest or a referral of pain along the rib.

Similarly, high-impact collisions or sports accidents can aggravate ribs, which can cause acute rib pain. Other triggers of rib pain:

• Forceful coughing
• Vomiting or sneezing
• Weak muscles
• Poor posture
• Repetitive motion strain
• Physical changes that occur following pregnancy

Common Types of Rib Pain

Many names can be given to rib pain. Examples are costochondritis, costotransverse sprain, or intercostal neuritis. 

Costochondritis refers to rib cartilage inflammation, while a costotransverse sprain occurs when irritation or a rotation affects the joints that connect the ribs to the vertebrae. 

Intercostal neuritis occurs when there is a swelling of the nerve between the ribs.

In the following sections, we examine the common types of rib pain that can be rectified through chiropractic care.

Chronic Rib Pain

Most patients that suffer from recurrent rib pain have tried alternative treatment methods in the past. The frustration of dealing with this condition often prompts victims to try long-term anti-inflammatory painkillers, rib joint injections, or spinal facet injections. 

However, these interventions do not offer satisfactory results.

Chronic rib pain occurs in patients with scoliosis or those whose top of the back is curved by over 45 degrees. You might be a victim if you carry loads for prolonged periods, have poor thoracic core muscles, or work in a sedentary occupation.

Chiropractic care helps you by addressing the underlying spinal problem through chiropractic adjustments and exercises. This approach also addresses core muscle weaknesses and postural problems to ensure reduced strain on the mid-back muscles. 

Costotransverse Sprain

As we have stated, a costotransverse sprain occurs when irritation or a rotation affects the joints that connect the ribs to the vertebrae. Awkward sleeping positions or similar occurrences that cause pain right away typically instigate these sorts of injuries.

When you visit a chiropractor, they will consider your case history, mechanism of injury, training regime, previous pathologies, and other potential causes. After a physical examination, rib adjustments, soft tissue releases, or rib taping can help stabilize the costovertebral joint. However, your treatment plan depends on the nature of your condition. 

It would help if you talked to the chiropractor about any symptoms, such as shortness of breath, unusual coughs, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, flu, or fever. This helps in making an accurate diagnosis.

Referred Pain

Sometimes, you might experience rib pain stimulated by an issue in another body part. Such a condition is called referred pain and occurs because of the interconnection of sensory nerves around various body tissues. Chiropractors typically have to consider this possibility. For example, referred pain in the rib area or the front of the chest might emanate from the mid-back. 

The condition can be severe if the cartilage that connects the rib to the breastbone becomes irritated and inflamed. The front of the chest becomes highly sensitive and easily aggravated by breathing and movement.

Since chiropractors are medical diagnosis professionals, they can comfortably rule out referred pain before beginning any form of treatment. The chiropractor will refer you to a doctor or hospital when there are signs of serious medical conditions, such as heart-related problems.

Chiropractic Care for Rib Pain

Chronic rib pain and costotransverse sprains can be addressed through chiropractic adjustment. The first step often involves applying manual techniques like massages and stretching exercises. Here, the objective is to help you relax tense and tight muscles..

The advantage of chiropractic care for rib pain is that it offers rapid relief. The chiropractic adjustments, corrective exercise, and manual therapy involved help ease your pain within short periods and ensure a speedy recovery. The process is also less painful compared to the condition itself. Therefore, chiropractic care is highly efficient and effective.

Talk to HD Performance Chiropractic About Your Rib Pain Problems

At HD Performance Chiropractic, we understand that rib pain can be frustrating, especially when it prevents you from properly walking or breathing. Pain in the ribs can happen due to various reasons, such as a heart attack, lung inflammation, cancer, acute direct damage, or soft tissue trouble.

If you are a victim of rib pain, the chiropractic professionals at HD Performance Chiropractic can help eliminate it. Contact us today or visit our Katy location to learn how we can help you manage your condition.