01/30/2019
🔈 TIGHT INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR DYSPNEA
Chest wall or Rib Pain is an annoying pain, which is quite common following intercostal muscle spasm or muscle sprain. An individual can sprain any muscle of the body, including those in the chest area resulting in severe pain. Intercostal muscle sprain results in severe spasmodic shooting pain.
Intercostal Muscles facilitate breathing. The muscles between the ribs are known as intercostal Muscles. Intercostal Muscles have a very vital role to play when it comes to movement of the ribs like while breathing.
The 11 groups of intercostal muscles lie on right and left side. Three layers of intercostal muscles are attached to upper and lower rib known as intercostal space. The three layers of intercostal muscles are outer layer known as external oblique, middle layer known as transverse intercostal muscles and inner layer known as internal oblique intercostal muscles. The function of the Intercostal Muscle is to stabilize the structure of the chest wall. The Intercostal Muscles also join the ribs together. The external and internal intercostal muscles fibers run in opposite oblique direction. Middle muscle layer runs in horizontal direction.
🔒 CAUSES OF INTERCOSTAL MUSCLE SPRAIN
* Upper Body Twist
* Forceful Twist Of Upper Body
* Forceful Swing Of The Arm
* Direct Chest Wall Impact
🔒 SYMPTOMS OF INTERCOSTAL MUSCLE SPRAIN
Sudden Acute Intense Pain
* Pain is localized over the sprained muscles.
* Pain intensity is severe, sharp and intense pain.
* Pain is associated with tenderness. Patient feels severe pain with palpation or examination of the area of the chest with sprain intercostal muscles.
* The main symptom of an Intercostal Muscle sprain is severe and constant pain in the chest wall area.
* If left untreated, after some time the pain may start occurring with movement or activities like breathing, coughing, sneezing etc.
* It is a self-limiting medical condition and usually resolves on its own after a few days.
🔒 SWELLING AND TENDERNESS
* Swelling is observed over the sprained intercostal muscles.
* Swelling is secondary to subcutaneous hematoma or inflammation of the muscles.
🔒 SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR DYSPNEA
* Patient complaints of shortness of breath also known as dyspnea.
* Shortness of breath is secondary to increase of pain intensity during inhalation.
* Patient stops taking deep breath when pain become severe and act of breathing results in short of completing of inspiration.
🔒 CHEST WALL STIFFNESS
* Patient complaints of chest wall stiffness.
* Patient prefers to take shallow breath.
* Stiffness is localized around the tender chest wall area.
🔒 TREATMENT FOR INTERCOSTAL MUSCLE SPRAIN
As stated above, Intercostal Muscle Sprain is a self-limiting medical condition and resolves itself within a few weeks. There may be steps taken to calm down the pain and inflammation that a person experiences with Intercostal Muscle sprain. Conservative treatment helps a long way in relieving symptoms and may include:
* Adequate rest
* Applying ice to the affected area
* Cold compresses
* Limited stretching exercises
* Physical therapy and/or massage therapy