Could Rib Mobility be the Culprit?

Ribs can affect pain in a few ways. For example, if the ribs are injured or inflamed, they can cause pain that radiates to the neck and chest creating a sharp pain while breathing. Additionally, tight muscles in the rib cage or neck can cause back pain, headaches, shoulder or arm pain, and even restrict the range of motion in your neck or shoulders. 

Rib dysfunction could come from: 

• Stiff of decreased rib expansion

• Trauma such as whiplash

• Poor posture 

• Muscle tightness

• Decreased core strength

• Disordered breathing mechanics

• COVID

Manual interventions such as myofascial release and joint mobilization to your thoracic spine or ribs can help decrease symptoms. Another great way is by restoring your breathing mechanics. 

Focusing on breathing mechanics and rib cage mobility has excellent benefits for different reasons. Not only are you increasing oxygenation to your brain and muscles, but also reducing anxiety by slowing down the heart rate and calming the nervous system. Restoring rib mechanics and decreasing muscle tension is a great way to allow your body to heal itself.

Rib dysfunction can feel like: 

• Neck and shoulder pain

• Decreased back and shoulder mobility

• Sharp pain during breathing or chest pain

• Headaches

• Jaw pain 

• Referred pain or numbness/tingling to head, arms, or hands

• Feeling like a knot in your back

• Decreased ability to take a full breath

Reducing physical and physiological symptoms caused by disordered breathing mechanics requires ensuring good rib and pelvic positioning and restoring diaphragmatic activity. 

Physical therapy can help with this. Other modalities that will be used during physical therapy treatment include: 

Massage to the scalenes, intercostals, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi

• Diaphragm release

• Diaphragmatic breathing

• Strengthening of the core muscles 

• Strengthening of the posture muscles 

If you are having some of the symptoms above, consider checking out your rib cage mobility.