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Relief for Rib Pain

Are you experiencing rib pain?  Have you been told you have costochondritis?

If you answered “yes” to one or both of these questions, physical therapy can help!

What is costochondritis?

Mayoclinic.com defines costochondritis as inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). Strain (due to coughing or repeated movements) or trauma can cause costochondritis, but can also come on for unknown reasons. Due to the location of this pain, it can often feel like chest pain that could warrant the need to rule out any heart-related causes first though.

Rib pain can include costochondritis but could also be in the side of the rib cage (rather than at the front at the sternum) and could also be caused for the various reasons mentioned above.

Physical therapy can help rib pain of all sorts including costochondritis through a variety of treatment options.

Here at the Cantrell Center, I have treated rib pain and costochondritis with a combination of treatment approaches including manual therapy; Postural Restoration activities and other exercises that may include breathing techniques, stretching, and inhibition/relaxation techniques; and aquatic therapy.

We can help!

Rib pain and costochondritis can be very painful and become chronic or long-lasting. Sometimes the very things that might alleviate the pain in one moment can cause the pain to increase in another moment. This fact can make trying to relieve such pain on your own a frustrating and often fruitless task. I know this from patients’ experiences, but also personally from having had severe rib pain myself prior to becoming a physical therapist. I spent quite a while with it coming and going until I knew the right things to do for it.

If you are experiencing rib pain or costochondritis, give us a call at (478) 953-3535 or stop by the front desk to schedule an appointment.  We can help!

About the Author

Jamie Lochner, PT, DPT, PRC, has been with the Cantrell Center since 2009.  Jamie is Postural Restoration Certified, a designation held by only 7 clinicians in the state of Georgia. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys going to church, being outside, and painting. When asked what she loves most about working at the Cantrell Center, Jamie responded, “The people–patients and coworkers, doing PRI therapy–the results are amazing, generally helping people get rid of their pain and back to their life.”