Rib pain can be extremely painful, affecting your ability to breathe, move, and perform daily activities. Simply inhaling can cause sharp, stabbing pain in the affected area of the ribs. Some people try to self-medicate to treat the injury, taking powerful pain medication, or they may try to live with the discomfort, hoping rest will eventually mend the pain. Whether your rib pain was caused by trauma, poor posture, or underlying health conditions, there are effective relief options available.
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment method that can provide significant relief for rib pain through non-invasive techniques. The doctors at the Naples Community Injury Center can review your case and injury and provide you with a treatment plan that relieves your rib pain and helps your body heal naturally. We want to help you get back to your life feeling stronger. Call us today to start feeling better.
Common Causes of Rib Pain
Like most misalignments, rib pain can be the result of various sources, including:
Trauma
Trauma is a very common cause for victims suffering from rib pain. Trauma can be the result of:
- Sport injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Struck by equipment
- Falling material
- Physical assaults
- Falls
In addition to misaligning the ribs, these accidents and incidents can cause rib fractures or bruising. If you have suffered a traumatic injury, you should go to the emergency room and have a doctor check you immediately. It is important to be properly diagnosed for your injuries. In addition to your rib pain, you may also be suffering from obscured internal injuries that your doctor can discover through an examination. If left untreated, you could suffer from a worsening condition and place your life in danger.
Muscle Strain
Overuse or sudden movements can strain muscles anywhere in the body, and the intercostal muscles between the ribs are no exception. This injury can occur with:
- Heavy lifting
- Poor posture or prolonged sitting
- Sudden movements, like coughing or sneezing
- Straining or overexertion
- Improper exercise technique
- Twisting motions
Without properly warming up and regular conditioning, any of these actions could result in straining the muscles and tissues of the torso and causing rib pain. A change in lifestyle that incorporates daily physical exercise and the use of proper techniques while on the job could reduce the occurrences of injuring the back and ribs.
Joint Dysfunction
The rib joints can become misaligned or restricted, leading to pain. Such joint dysfunction could include:
- Costovertebral joint dysfunction
- Costotransverse joint dysfunction
- Sternocostal joint dysfunction
These injuries are caused by misalignment and inflammation.
Medical Conditions
You may also be suffering from conditions such as costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone) and thoracic outlet syndrome, which can cause rib pain.
If you are suffering from rib pain and would like a consultation regarding chiropractic care as an alternative treatment, call our number now. The chiropractic care team with Naples Community Injury Center can help you develop a treatment plan that caters to your healthcare needs.
How Our Chiropractic Care Can Help With Your Rib Pain
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those involving the spine and its connection to the nervous system. For rib pain, chiropractors use several techniques to provide relief:
Spinal Adjustments
Chiropractors perform adjustments to the thoracic spine (mid-back) to correct misalignments that may be contributing to rib pain. To make these adjustments, we apply a controlled, sudden force to the spinal joint. These adjustments help restore:
- Proper alignment
- Reduce nerve irritation
- Relieve muscle tension
- Improve overall spinal function
By adjusting the spinal joint and reducing the factors that create pain and tension, the body is better able to heal itself.
Rib Adjustments
Rib adjustments involve the costovertebral, costotransverse, and sternocostal joints. Specific adjustments to these rib joints can relieve pain by addressing joint dysfunction directly. Like spinal adjustments, these adjustments can correct:
- Misalignments
- Compressed nerves
- Tight joints
- Tense muscles
- Pain and inflammation
These adjustments are gentle and designed to reposition the ribs correctly, alleviating pressure and discomfort.
Relax Therapy
Relax therapy is about calming the mind and body. The goal is to reduce physical and emotional stress and promote a state of relaxation. In this state of relaxation, the body can begin to heal itself. Through massage, we are able to help your body’s circulatory system, relieving pain and helping injuries heal.
We Can Also Offer Physiotherapy Treatments for Your Recovery
To support long-term recovery, our chiropractors may prescribe exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the rib cage and improve flexibility. These exercises could help prevent future injuries and maintain proper posture. We can provide such physiotherapy treatments as:
Resistance Training
Resistance training helps you develop muscle mass and strength. We can assess your injuries and develop a training program that strengthens the muscles in the affected area. We can expand on that training program to help with overall strength and recovery. Such exercises have the added benefit of alleviating back pain, arthritis, and osteoporosis. With increased strength, you could find yourself maintaining proper posture and increasing your mobility and endurance.
Muscle Energy Techniques
Muscle energy techniques (MET) is a strength and stretch training program. This therapy is often used to help people recovering from surgery or a fracture. It is also used to help those living with a joint-related disease or low stamina.
The process involves your physiotherapist holding the affected or injured muscles in a specific position and having you contract the muscles. After the exercise, the muscle is allowed to rest. Then, your physiotherapist will stretch the muscle to test your range of motion. This process may be repeated multiple times.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation uses electrodes near the affected area to transmit magnetic waves through the skin to facilitate circulation. After each session, your physiotherapist will assess your progress and adjust the treatment accordingly.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Rib Pain
Chiropractic care is an excellent alternative for treating your rib pain. Our staff can provide you with treatment plans that are:
- Non-invasive: Chiropractic care is a non-surgical and drug-free approach, minimizing potential side effects and complications.
- Personalized treatment: Chiropractors tailor treatments to each patient’s specific condition and needs, ensuring a more effective and targeted approach.
- Pain relief: Chiropractic adjustments and therapies can provide immediate pain relief and improve function.
- Improved mobility: By addressing the root causes of rib pain, chiropractic care can enhance your overall mobility and quality of life.
Not only can we assist with your rib pain, but chiropractic adjustments can also help with such ailments as:
- Asthma
- Sports injuries
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Contact the Naples Community Injury Center to learn how we can help you recover from your rib pain and more.
What to Expect During Chiropractic Treatment
Our goal is your healthy recovery. We want to treat your rib pain and get you back to living your life pain-free. When you schedule a visit to our facility, here’s what you can expect from us to help you:
We Start With a Comprehensive Initial Consultation
Our chiropractor will take a detailed medical history. We will discuss the rib pain you are living with and what you are doing to treat it at present, but we will also discuss any previous issues and injuries you had. We’ll also talk about surgeries, medications, lifestyle, and any other symptoms you are experiencing.
We will then perform a physical examination to understand the cause of your rib pain. We’ll look at your posture, test your range of motion, and palpate the affected area, physically checking for misaligned joints and muscle tension.
We will also conduct imaging studies, such as X-rays or MRIs.
We Build a Treatment Plan Specific to Your Needs
Based on the diagnosis, our doctors will develop a personalized treatment plan. This plan may include a combination of spinal and rib adjustments, relaxation therapies, and physiotherapy treatments. We may also advise you on changes to your lifestyle.
Continuing Your Care Through Follow-Up Visits
After your initial treatment, we will schedule regular visits. During these visits, we will continue your care, monitoring your progress and adjusting subsequent treatment sessions. You can provide us feedback on your progress, communicating any changes in your symptoms or concerns you might have.
The frequency of your visits will depend on the severity of your condition and your response to treatment. In some cases, your injury may require ongoing care through periodic visits. In these instances, our goal is to maintain your health and mobility and avoid an injury from reoccurring.
Receive Chiropractic Care for Your Rib Pain
Naples Community Injury Center offers a holistic and effective approach to managing your rib pain. Through a combination of spinal and rib adjustments, relaxation therapies, and personalized rehabilitation exercises, our chiropractors can help alleviate your pain, improve function, and enhance your overall well-being.
If you are experiencing rib pain, consider consulting with our chiropractor to explore this non-invasive treatment option. Call us now to schedule your appointment today.
