Rib pain can be quite uncomfortable. Pain in the chest is not only a painful annoyance but can also be a source of anxiety. Did you know that a misaligned rib could be the culprit behind deep or sharp pain in the upper back?
The main function of the rib cage is to serve as protection for our lungs and heart. The rib cage is also involved with respiration and helps us breathe. It expands and moves up and out with each breath allowing air to enter the body. This movement also facilitates the important exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen within our circulatory system.
Anatomy
The rib cage is made up of bones and cartilage. The front of your rib cage is the sternum or breastbone. It is the hardest part of the ribcage and protects the heart. Costal cartilage and intercostal muscles form the meshwork connecting the sternum, 24 ribs, and the thoracic spine together. There are 12 ribs on each side of the body. They run from the front of the chest and around the side to form joints with the 12 thoracic spinal vertebrae of the back. The specific joint where the rib connects to the spinal vertebrae the joint is called the costovertebral joint.
Rib Misalignment
The primary function of the rib cage is protection – but remember, it is also a flexible structure that expands and accommodates our breath and our body’s movements. Proper rib cage and thoracic spine movement are necessary for optimal breathing and function. When the thoracic vertebrae become “restricted”, the rib joints and the function of the rib cage can be negatively affected.
When the thoracic vertebrae and joints of the rib are out of alignment, they can irritate the ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves in the area. These joints can become inflamed and the associated pain can be intense. This pain can be felt at the front or the back of the rib cage or under the shoulder blades. There may be swelling and tenderness when touching or applying pressure to the area. Deep breathing can be difficult, along with coughing or twisting. When a rib has been misaligned for a long time, the sharp pain can become a constant dull ache and normal spinal movement can become dysfunctional.
Rib misalignment can be a result of multiple causes including trauma, athletic activity, muscle strain, chronic coughing, sneezing, poor posture, pregnancy, and repetitive strain.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Rib pain is something one should always get properly assessed to ascertain the accurate cause of the pain and potential treatment options.
If you have tightness in your chest or arms accompanied by nausea, indigestion, and shortness of breath, immediate medical attention is necessary. It is important to rule out a heart attack. If you have sustained an injury to the chest and suspect a rib fracture, immediate medical attention is necessary to rule out secondary trauma to the internal organs.
Chiropractors are musculoskeletal (MSK) specialists trained in assessing and treating rib pain. If costovertebral dysfunctions are diagnosed by your chiropractor, chiropractic adjustments may be an appropriate treatment option for you. Chiropractic adjustments to the ribs and spine increase the mobility of the spine and rib cage while alleviating pain and dysfunction.
Chiropractors can also help with patient education and home care exercises to address underlying muscle weakness or postural dysfunction that could be an underlying cause of recurring rib pain.
Your body is a well-designed machine that may require attention to address faulty mechanics or postural dysfunction as a result of the lifestyles we lead. Proper rib cage and thoracic spine movement are essential components to optimal breathing and pain-free movement.
Want to Get to the Bottom of Your Rib Pain?
To learn more about the underlying cause and solution to your rib pain, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. Visit our website or call to book an assessment with one of our team of experts at CURAVITA Byward (613-860-8600) or CURAVITA Glebe (613-237-9000).
