What Is an Intercostal Muscle Strain and How Is It Treated?

What is intercostal muscle strain? Find out all about it here.

Intercostal muscle strain is an ailment that manifests itself within the muscles between the ribs. It may be brought on by overexertion, impact or poor posture. The intensity of the pain depends upon the severity of the injury. However, it tends to worsen when coughing or sneezing.

Treatment will likely be based on painkillers, cold and hot compresses and physiotherapy. Although they are often not serious, attention ought to be paid to them to avoid further complications. How to acknowledge this injury? When to go to the doctor?

What is intercostal muscle strain?

Intercostal muscles are people who lie between the ribs, connecting them and forming the chest wall. They they consist of three layers, called the outer, inner and innermost intercostals.

During respiratory, these muscles contract to expand the chest and permit the lungs to fill with air. They also provide upper body stability.

In muscle tension there may be partial or complete tearing of the fiberswhich can retract, causing a spot between the fibres. Other structures will also be affected, resembling the myotendinous junction (between muscle and tendon), tendons, and even blood vessels.

So it’s called “intercostal strain,” which occurs when the muscles between the ribs are overstretched or overstretched, causing pain and shortness of breath.

Symptoms of intercostal muscle tension

In this state, the fundamental symptom is a pointy pain within the ribswhich may occur on the appropriate or left side of the chest resulting from compression of the nerves within the chest. Sometimes it spreads to the back, arm, or shoulder.

There can also be tenderness within the chest or ribs when touched, in addition to muscle spasms. The pain may be sharp and sudden, and at other times gradual and constant. It worsens when an individual bends over, coughs, sneezes, takes a deep breath, or makes certain hand movements.

Other symptoms may vary barely depending on the cause. The following situations may occur:

• Swelling across the ribs
• Stiffness
• Tension
• Difficulty moving the upper limbs
• Breathing difficulties

Possible causes

As mentioned, such a tension occurs when the intercostal muscles turn out to be too tight. This can occur for various reasonsSuch as:

• Twisting or excessive twisting.
• Stretching while extending the arm up.
• Lifting heavy objects above the shoulders or head.
• Bad body posture.
• Repetitive movement.
• Overwork.
• Impact or injury.
• Severe colds with violent sneezing.
• Increased intensity of physical activity.

In turn, certain activities can contribute to the looks of this injury. For example, chopping firewood, painting up and others which can be done with the hand up for a very long time. That too often occurs in the practicing certain sports; for instance the next:

• Tennis.
• Golf.
• Rowing.
• Basketball.
• Weightlifting.

These include sudden twisting, forceful, and stretching movements. Others, resembling boxing, martial arts, and field hockey, also pose risks.

Worth noticing, 2012 investigation notes that reigns in baseball whether you bat or pitch. It is claimed that this ailment accounts for five% of all injuries in the main leagues.

Meanwhile, cases cases of intercostal muscle strain after insertion of a drainage tube in patients with pleural disease have been identified. This often causes pain and cramping.

Another test states that when an individual is at high altitude (e.g. while climbing), there may be irritation and dryness of the respiratory tract, with rhinorrhea, bronchospasm and coughing, which in turn may cause tension within the intercostal muscles and pain within the chest wall.

What is the diagnosis?

When several of the above symptoms are present – especially if the pain becomes persistent, intensifies and interferes with day by day activities and rest – a visit to the doctor is advisable to make a diagnosis and rule out one other style of problem, resembling pneumonia.

This features a physical examination to see if there may be a restriction in movement, where and when there may be more pain. The healthcare skilled must also ask concerning the patient’s occupation, whether or not they have had a recent sport-related accident or injury.

A chest X-ray or MRI could also be ordered to search for rib fractures or internal injuriesfor instance to the lungs; a spirometer will also be used to find out tidal volume and lung capability.

However, depending on the symptoms and their severity, there are different degrees of intercostal muscle strain:

• And or mild: it’s a gentle variety; some muscle fibers could have been torn (lower than 5%), lack of movement and strength is minor. It can improve in a number of weeks with some care.
• II or moderate: there may be more damage to muscle fibers, there may be swelling and pain within the chest. Therefore, the movement is more affected.
• III or heavy: a severe tear which will require surgery.

Intercostal muscle strain treatment

Urgent medical attention is required when intercostal muscle strain is the results of trauma (e.g. automobile accident) and shortness of breath occurs.

Generally, treatment is geared toward restoring mobility and relieve symptoms resembling pain. For this, depending on the severity, there are different treatment options, as we’ll see below.

Rest and painkillers

The first advisable thing is to loosen up the affected part and suspend the activity regarded as the reason for the injury.

On the opposite hand, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter painkillers and anti inflammatory medicationsresembling ibuprofen, naproxen or paracetamol. Lidocaine injection or corticosteroids could also be given for very severe pain.

physical therapy

There are also stretching exercises that may help with the recovery process so long as they’re performed by a physical therapist. However, if these movements make the pain worse, they ought to be stopped immediately.

In this regard, a research from 2017 mentions a series of chest lifting exercises that were used on a patient with kyphosis who developed pain within the intercostal muscles, which turned out to be effective.

home care

In addition to the above-mentioned rest, with the consent of the doctor some home care may be maintainedespecially if the strain and symptoms are mild. This includes activities resembling:

• Applying cold and hot compresses.
• Warm water bath with Epsom salt.
• Breathing exercises, holding a pillow against the chest, slow and deep inhalation and exhalation.

Can intercostal muscle strain be prevented?

Sometimes intercostal muscle strain is the results of a sudden sprain, overexertion, or repetitive activity. In these cases, it might probably be prevented; but not when it happened due to impact.

Now, to be able to minimize the chance of suffering this or that injury, it is best to avoid sharply increasing the intensity level of your activity. AND it’s at all times advisable to warm up before exercisingplaying sports, even if you happen to intend to do labor.

This is something we frequently overlook. Not only because we are usually not within the habit of warming up, but additionally because we forget to stretch the back muscles, which are often relatively immobile.

Finally, as other preventive measures, we must always try to keep up good posture standing or sitting right down to work, watch TV or use the phone; and stand up every now and then to stretch your back.

Maybe it should interest you…