Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentsRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
Recovery
Musculoskeletal chest pain can be alarming since any type of chest pain can raise concerns aboutheart disease. And because chest pain may indeed be a sign ofanginaor of some other cardiac (heart) problem, it is always a good idea to have it checked out.
Heart disease, however, is only one of the many types of conditions that can produce chest pain. One of the more frequent causes of non-cardiac chest pain is a strained chest muscle.
The article will explore some causes of musculoskeletal chest pain and how strained chest muscles are diagnosed and treated.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Musculoskeletal Chest Pain Symptoms
Musculoskeletal chest pain can range from dull and achy to sharp and intense.It may be felt across the chest or on just one side.
Other signs and symptoms may include:
How to Tell If Chest Pain is MuscularIn general, musculoskeletal pain tends to feel worse with deep breathing or when massaging or pressing on the area.However, it can be hard to tell the difference between chest pain due to a strained muscle and more serious conditions, such as a heart issue, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have chest pain.
How to Tell If Chest Pain is Muscular
In general, musculoskeletal pain tends to feel worse with deep breathing or when massaging or pressing on the area.However, it can be hard to tell the difference between chest pain due to a strained muscle and more serious conditions, such as a heart issue, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have chest pain.
What Causes Musculoskeletal Chest Pain?
Causes of Chest and Back Pain Based on Location
Strained Chest Muscles
Research also suggests that tension and anxiety may also play a role in chest muscle strain and pain with a gradual onset.
Chest muscles that are commonly involved in muscle strain are:
Rib Fractures
Chest trauma or overuse can also cause rib fractures. This can happen with forceful impact, such as a car accident or sports injury due to a collision, or it can happen as a result of repeated trauma to a bone.
Stress fracturesof the ribs can affect athletes who engage in strenuous, repetitive motions involving the upper body, such as rowersor baseball pitchers. Osteoporosis orvitamin D deficiencymay increase the risk of fractures.
Costochondritis
Costochondritis, sometimes called costosternal syndrome or anterior chest wall syndrome, indicates pain and tenderness in the costochondral junction, which is the area along the sides of the breastbone where the ribs attach.
The causes of costochondritis are not well understood.
Costochondritis usually resolves without treatment. Sometimes it is treated with localized heat or stretching exercises, but it is unclear whether such measures help. If the pain of costochondritis persists for more than a week or so, your healthcare provider may consider an evaluation looking for other chest wall conditions. Consulting with a chiropractor may also be useful.
Symptoms of Costochondritis
Lower Rib Pain Syndrome
Lower rib pain syndrome (also called slipping rib syndrome) affects the lower ribs. People who have this condition usually complain of pain in the lower part of the chest or in the abdomen.
This condition is usually treated conservatively, with advice to avoid activities that reproduce the pain in an attempt to allow the ribs to heal. Surgery may be required to stabilize the slipping rib.
Precordial Catch
Precordial catch is a completely benign and very common condition, generally seen in children or young adults. With this condition, sudden, sharp chest pain occurs, usually on the left side of the chest, lasting for a few seconds to a few minutes.
The pain from precordial catch typically occurs at rest. During the episode, the pain increases with breathing. After a few seconds or a few minutes, the pain resolves completely. The cause of this condition is unknown, and it usually isn’t harmful.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a relatively common syndrome that causes musculoskeletal pains. Pain over the chest is common with this condition.
Fibromyalgia often has many other symptoms in addition to pain, such as fatigue, sleep problems,and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Rheumatic Diseases
Chest wall pain associated with inflammation of the spine or rib joints can occur with several rheumatic conditions, in particular,rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis,andpsoriatic arthritis.
How Are Strained Chest Muscles Diagnosed?
A diagnosis may be based on your symptoms and a physical exam. Your healthcare provider may also recommend imaging tests, such as achest X-ray,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)orCT scanto get a more detailed look at the area.
When to Seek Emergency Medical CareCall 9-1-1 if you experience chest pain that feels like pressure or squeezing and it keeps returning or is getting worse or if you have other warning signs of a heart attack, such as:Shortness of breath or difficulty breathingLightheadednessNausea or vomitingCold sweatBack or jaw painDiscomfort or pain in the arm or shoulder
When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
Call 9-1-1 if you experience chest pain that feels like pressure or squeezing and it keeps returning or is getting worse or if you have other warning signs of a heart attack, such as:Shortness of breath or difficulty breathingLightheadednessNausea or vomitingCold sweatBack or jaw painDiscomfort or pain in the arm or shoulder
Call 9-1-1 if you experience chest pain that feels like pressure or squeezing and it keeps returning or is getting worse or if you have other warning signs of a heart attack, such as:
Treating Musculoskeletal Chest Pain
Treatments for musculoskeletal chest pain often just involve pain management and rest while the muscle or bone heals.
Your healthcare provider may recommend:
For muscle strains, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries, theRICE methodis often recommended.
If there is a serious chest trauma or the injury is impacting your ability to breathe, surgery may be recommended.
Recovering from a Strained Chest Muscle
If you have a strained chest muscle, you may need to modify your activities for a while to give yourself a chance to heal.
If your symptoms don’t start to improve within a few weeks or get worse, see your healthcare provider. Additional tests may be needed.
Summary
Muscle strains are a common cause of chest wall pain and are not usually a serious medical problem. However, your healthcare provider will need to diagnose the cause of your chest wall pain and rule out more serious conditions. In most cases, the treatment will be related to pain management and rest as the area heals.
9 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.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Gräni C, Senn O, Bischof M, et al.Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study.BMJ Open. 2015;5(1):e007442. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007442Vinther A.Rib stress fractures in rowers.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2015;7(Suppl 1):O18. doi:10.1186/2052-1847-7-S1-O18Foley CM, Sugimoto D, Mooney DP, Meehan W, Stracciolini A.Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome.Clin J Sport Med.2019;29:18. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000506Barrell A.What is precordial catch syndrome?Medical News Today.Keskindag B, Karaaziz M.The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia.Saudi Med J. 2017;38(5):465-475. doi:10.15537/smj.2017.5.17864Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist (Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
9 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.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Gräni C, Senn O, Bischof M, et al.Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study.BMJ Open. 2015;5(1):e007442. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007442Vinther A.Rib stress fractures in rowers.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2015;7(Suppl 1):O18. doi:10.1186/2052-1847-7-S1-O18Foley CM, Sugimoto D, Mooney DP, Meehan W, Stracciolini A.Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome.Clin J Sport Med.2019;29:18. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000506Barrell A.What is precordial catch syndrome?Medical News Today.Keskindag B, Karaaziz M.The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia.Saudi Med J. 2017;38(5):465-475. doi:10.15537/smj.2017.5.17864Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist (Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
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.
Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Gräni C, Senn O, Bischof M, et al.Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study.BMJ Open. 2015;5(1):e007442. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007442Vinther A.Rib stress fractures in rowers.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2015;7(Suppl 1):O18. doi:10.1186/2052-1847-7-S1-O18Foley CM, Sugimoto D, Mooney DP, Meehan W, Stracciolini A.Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome.Clin J Sport Med.2019;29:18. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000506Barrell A.What is precordial catch syndrome?Medical News Today.Keskindag B, Karaaziz M.The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia.Saudi Med J. 2017;38(5):465-475. doi:10.15537/smj.2017.5.17864Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist (Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007
Gräni C, Senn O, Bischof M, et al.Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study.BMJ Open. 2015;5(1):e007442. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007442
Vinther A.Rib stress fractures in rowers.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2015;7(Suppl 1):O18. doi:10.1186/2052-1847-7-S1-O18
Foley CM, Sugimoto D, Mooney DP, Meehan W, Stracciolini A.Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome.Clin J Sport Med.2019;29:18. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000506
Barrell A.What is precordial catch syndrome?Medical News Today.
Keskindag B, Karaaziz M.The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia.Saudi Med J. 2017;38(5):465-475. doi:10.15537/smj.2017.5.17864
Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist (Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-z
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
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