Yes, you can absolutely pull or strain a muscle by your ribs, an injury that is surprisingly common and often causes significant pain. This condition, frequently referred to as a rib muscle strain, involves the overstretching or tearing of the muscles that attach to the rib cage. The resulting pain can be sharp and localized, leading many people to mistakenly worry about a more severe problem like a broken rib or a heart issue. A pulled muscle near the ribs is typically a musculoskeletal injury, manageable with conservative care.
Key Muscles Involved in Rib Cage Strains
The most frequently strained muscles in this area are the intercostals, small muscle groups located between individual ribs. These muscles have three layers—external, internal, and innermost—and are crucial for stabilizing the chest wall and facilitating breathing mechanics. Because they contract and relax to move the rib cage during inhalation and exhalation, they are highly susceptible to strain during forceful or sudden movements.
Other muscles contributing to movement and stability in the rib area can also be affected. The serratus anterior wraps around the side of the rib cage under the shoulder blade, helping move the scapula, and can be strained by forceful overhead reaching. The oblique muscles, part of the abdominal wall, attach to the lower ribs and are prone to injury from activities involving twisting and bending the torso. A strain in any of these groups causes localized tenderness and pain that restricts movement.
How Rib Muscle Strains Occur and What They Feel Like
Rib muscle strains occur when the muscle is suddenly stretched beyond its normal capacity. Acute overexertion from sports involving repetitive twisting, such as golf, tennis, or rowing, is a frequent mechanism of injury. Heavy lifting, especially when combined with an awkward twist of the torso, can also place excessive stress on the intercostal or oblique muscles.
A common, non-athletic cause is the indirect force generated by a sudden, forceful cough or sneeze, particularly during illness or allergies. The intense contraction of the chest and abdominal muscles during these actions can easily overstretch the small intercostals. The pain is typically sharp and highly localized, often intensifying dramatically with movements like twisting, stretching, or deep breathing. This tenderness may cause a person to take shallow breaths to avoid the pain caused by muscle movement.
At-Home Management and Expected Recovery Time
Initial management focuses on rest and controlling pain and inflammation. Temporarily avoid any activities that increase the pain, such as twisting, heavy lifting, or repetitive overhead movements. For the first 48 hours, applying a cold pack wrapped in a thin towel to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day can help reduce swelling and discomfort.
After the initial two days, switching to moist heat therapy, such as a heating pad or a warm bath, can help relax the muscle and promote blood flow, aiding the healing process. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, are helpful for managing both pain and inflammation. To ease breathing pain, holding a pillow firmly against the injured area provides gentle support and can help “splint” the muscles during a cough or deep breath. A mild strain typically feels better within a few days, but full recovery for moderate strains often takes three to seven weeks.
Signs That Require Immediate Medical Attention
While most rib muscle strains are minor and heal with home care, certain symptoms require immediate evaluation to rule out serious conditions, such as a rib fracture or internal injury. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath disproportionate to the pain. This could signal a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), which is an urgent situation.
You should also seek prompt medical care if the pain is accompanied by symptoms like coughing up blood, pain radiating into the arm, jaw, or neck, or chest pressure or tightness. Other red flags include a crunching or grinding sensation (crepitus) near the ribs, severe, unrelenting pain that does not improve after 48 hours of rest, or signs of systemic illness such as a high fever or excessive sweating. These signs suggest a potential complication beyond a simple muscle strain.