Ribcage dysfunction plagues many people and can cause a wide array of symptoms. Rib pain has even been known to mimic heart attacks, which can be a very scary experience that commonly lands people in the ER or urgent care. Many times the only quick relief can be found with high dose pain medication. However, chiropractic is the best tool to help manage rib pain and dysfunction naturally.
Due to the anatomy of ribs, even the slightest problem can be extremely painful. This is due to the close proximity of the nerve to the rib itself. Any misalignment can constrict and irritate these nerves which is why rib pain commonly radiates around to the chest.
The biomechanics of proper ribcage function depends greatly on the structure of the spine and the integrity of the individual ribs. The ribcage is a blend of spinal bones, rib bones, cartilage, and muscles. Which makes it relatively unstable and prone to injury.
Injury
Car accidents are a common cause of ribcage dysfunction even if that accident happened long in the past. When one is wearing a seat belt and is in an accident, it pins down one side of the ribcage while the other side is flung forward. This creates a distortion or twist in the ribs and spine. Falls, blunt force trauma, muscle strains, fractures, and sports strains are also common injuries to the ribcage.
Improper Breathing Patterns
Many people have poor breathing mechanics. Meaning that they use muscles that are not meant to aid in breathing. These muscles are usually the neck muscles, shoulders and traps. When someone breathes with these muscles it creates tightness and tension in these areas. Instead of using the ribs to ebb and flow with the breath, the ribcage can become very stiff and rigid over time. This can create rib pain, which leads to shortness of breath, headaches, anxiety, and upper back tension.
Repetitive Strain
Athletes especially fall victim to this as many sports are one sided and train the same movements repeatedly. Golf and baseball swings, volleyball spikes, swimmers strokes, etc, all use the ribcage. It is very important to create proper mobility and function in these athletes so it don't result in improper, uneven ribcage patterns that could result in injury down the line.
Chiropractic Care for Ribs
Chiropractors are experts in assessing and adjusting the entire ribcage. It is essential for proper breathing and to avoid future pain and injury. If you are feeling symptoms of tension in the midback, shortness of breath, shooting/radiating pain to the chest, chest pain, headaches, anxiety, or stiffness, get checked by a chiropractor. If you injure or fracture a rib, get checked immediately to make sure you don't have permanent deficits that will plague you later on. Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic to get assessed by experts. Make an appointment today!
562-386-1415
Monday 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 11:00am & 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Wednesday 2:00pm - 6:30pm
Thursday 8:00am - 11:00am & 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday CLOSED
Serving the communities of Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Garden Grove, Santa Ana
Thrive Family Chiropractic
18141 Beach Blvd Ste 150, Huntington Beach, California 92648