It’s very common to hear about rib problems, but what does it mean when the chiropractor tells you that you have a rib out?  It simply means that one or more of the ribs has shifted slightly from being in normal alignment.

The ribs are connected to the vertebrae in our back, curve around our sides, and then connect to the sternum (breast bone) in our chest.  They form the rib cage that encircles and protects vital organs such as the lungs and heart.  Each time we breathe in our rib cage expands and when we breathe out it repositions.

Coughing or sneezing forcefully may cause a rib to become misaligned.  Other causes for shifting in ribs include injuries, lifting heavy items, twisting, and holding poor posture.

When a person has a rib out they usually complain of pain in the back, in between the shoulder blades, or in the chest.  The pain usually intensifies when the person takes a deep breath in, as that requires the rib to move and expand with the rib cage.  The pain felt can be a sharp pain or achy pain in those areas.  It typically is not a feeling of pressure and should not affect the ability to breathe.

The best treatment for a misaligned rib is chiropractic manipulation.  There are several ways to perform an adjustment on a rib.  Some chiropractors adjust ribs with the patient laying on their stomach, some prefer the patient laying on their back, and some prefer using an instrument versus their hands.  The adjustment should not hurt, however depending on how long the rib has been misaligned the muscles may be adapted and there may be slight muscle soreness until they become accustomed to having the rib in the correct position again.  After having a rib adjustment the patient usually feels better immediately after, but occasionally it may fall back out of place.  This may happen a number of times until the muscles become trained to hold the rib in the normal alignment.  The best and quickest way for the body to hold the adjustment is to strengthen the muscles surrounding the rib cage.  Exercises should be given by the chiropractor to strengthen associated muscles such as the pectoralis muscles, the trapezius, and rhomboids.

If you think you may have a rib problem and are experiencing symptoms in the back, chest, or both contact your chiropractor to learn the best treatment options for you.  They will be able to give complete treatment to correct the problem, alleviate the symptoms, and prevent future episodes.  It’s a great way to feel better without exposing your body to medications and unnecessary side effects.

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