Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAssessmentPhysical TherapyExercisesPreventionOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Assessment
Physical Therapy
Exercises
Prevention
Outlook
This article discusses costochondritis, its symptoms, and how physical therapy can help you recover.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
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Assessing Costochondritis
When you first visit a physical therapist for costochondritis, they will conduct an initial evaluation. You’ll be asked:
Your therapist can get an idea of the severity of your costochondritis during the history-taking portion of the evaluation. More severe cases cause significant limitations in breathing and changing positions; mild cases may cause some pain, but functional mobility may not be affected to a great extent.
A Word From Verywell
—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Common Assessment Tests
After your physical therapist takes your history, they will perform several tests and measures to get an idea of what impairments may be causing your costochondritis. Common tests and measures may include:
After your therapist performs an examination, they should have enough information to determine the root cause of your costochondritis and can start treatment. A plan of care will be discussed with you, and goals for rehab for your chest pain will be set.
Costochondritis Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Costochondritis Physical Therapy
Physical therapy for costochondritis involves helping you manage your pain, decreasing inflammation, and improving the way you move to relieve pressure off inflamed rib cartilage. Most people with costochondritis benefit from working with an orthopedic physical therapist, an expert in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
Different modalities and maneuvers may be used to improve the way you move. These may include:
Other treatments may be used to help decrease pain and inflammation. These may includeheatto improve circulation and ice to decrease pain and swelling around inflamed tissues. Other common PT treatments, such asultrasoundor electrical stimulation, are not used, as the cartilage involved is close to the heart. Performing these procedures near your cardiac structures is not recommended.
Active involvement in your therapy is key. Your therapist will likely prescribe exercises to help your ribs and thorax (chest) move better.
An Overview of Physical Therapy
Exercises for Costochondritis
Exercises for costochondritis are designed to improve overall chest wall and rib mobility. This can help decrease pain and improve the way your ribs and thorax move. Postural exercises can relieve the pressure of inflamed cartilage.
Before starting any exercise program for costochondritis, check in with your healthcare provider to ensure that exercise is safe for you to do.
Pectoral Corner Stretch
The pectoral corner stretch is meant to improve the flexibility of yourpectoralor chest muscles. To perform the stretch:
Pectoral Doorway Stretch
You can stretch your pecs using a doorway opening, too. To perform this stretch:
Scapula Squeeze
The scapula squeeze can be done to improve posture and muscular control of your thorax. To perform this exercise:
The scapula squeeze exercise can be more challenging with a resistance band:
Stability Ball Lying Chest Stretch
Another great way to open up your chest wall and stretch your pectorals and chest muscles is to use a stability ball. To do this stretch:
If any exercise gives you lasting pain in your chest or ribs, stop it and check in with your physical therapist. Often, alterations can be made to make your exercises more comfortable.
Preventing Costochondritis
One important component of any good physical therapy program is learning to prevent future problems with your condition. Prevention of costochondritis may include:
If you start to feel your symptoms of costochondritis creeping on again, performing your home exercise program for stretching, breathing, and postural exercises may help keep symptoms under control.
Costochondritis is often a self-limiting condition. That means that symptoms and the pain may subside without any treatment at all.
Physical therapy, however, can be an effective management strategy to speed the process along and to ensure that you are moving correctly while your rib cartilage is healing.
How Long Does PT Take?Most people with costochondritis attend physical therapy for one to two sessions a week for four to six weeks. Your length of care may be longer or shorter depending on the severity of your condition and any underlying medical conditions.
How Long Does PT Take?
Most people with costochondritis attend physical therapy for one to two sessions a week for four to six weeks. Your length of care may be longer or shorter depending on the severity of your condition and any underlying medical conditions.
If your symptoms persist for longer than six weeks, check back in with your healthcare provider. A referral to an orthopedic specialist may be in order; occasionally, steroid injections are given to relieve inflammation in the costochondral joints.
Keep in mind that the pain from costochondritis usually abates within a few weeks, but some severe cases last for up to one year.
Summary
If you have chest pain from costochondritis, you may benefit from working with a physical therapist. Your therapist can educate you about your condition and prescribe exercises to improve your mobility and decrease your pain.
Most episodes of costochondritis are short-lived. Learning what to do and when to do it can help you recover quickly and return to your normal active lifestyle.
How to Tell if Chest Pain is Muscular
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Berg AT, Stafne SN, Hiller A, Slørdahl SA, Aamot I-L.Physical therapy intervention in patients with non-cardiac chest pain following a recent cardiac event: A randomized controlled trial.SAGE Open Med. 2015;3:205031211558079. doi:10.1177/2050312115580799Barranco-Trabi J, Mank V, Roberts J, Newman DP.Atypical costochondritis: complete resolution of symptoms after rib manipulation and soft tissue mobilization.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14369. doi:10.7759/cureus.14369Patient information.Costochondritis: What you need to know.Am Fam Physician.2021;80(6):617-s1.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Berg AT, Stafne SN, Hiller A, Slørdahl SA, Aamot I-L.Physical therapy intervention in patients with non-cardiac chest pain following a recent cardiac event: A randomized controlled trial.SAGE Open Med. 2015;3:205031211558079. doi:10.1177/2050312115580799Barranco-Trabi J, Mank V, Roberts J, Newman DP.Atypical costochondritis: complete resolution of symptoms after rib manipulation and soft tissue mobilization.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14369. doi:10.7759/cureus.14369Patient information.Costochondritis: What you need to know.Am Fam Physician.2021;80(6):617-s1.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Berg AT, Stafne SN, Hiller A, Slørdahl SA, Aamot I-L.Physical therapy intervention in patients with non-cardiac chest pain following a recent cardiac event: A randomized controlled trial.SAGE Open Med. 2015;3:205031211558079. doi:10.1177/2050312115580799Barranco-Trabi J, Mank V, Roberts J, Newman DP.Atypical costochondritis: complete resolution of symptoms after rib manipulation and soft tissue mobilization.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14369. doi:10.7759/cureus.14369Patient information.Costochondritis: What you need to know.Am Fam Physician.2021;80(6):617-s1.
Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.
Berg AT, Stafne SN, Hiller A, Slørdahl SA, Aamot I-L.Physical therapy intervention in patients with non-cardiac chest pain following a recent cardiac event: A randomized controlled trial.SAGE Open Med. 2015;3:205031211558079. doi:10.1177/2050312115580799
Barranco-Trabi J, Mank V, Roberts J, Newman DP.Atypical costochondritis: complete resolution of symptoms after rib manipulation and soft tissue mobilization.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14369. doi:10.7759/cureus.14369
Patient information.Costochondritis: What you need to know.Am Fam Physician.2021;80(6):617-s1.
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