Both bruised ribs and pulled chest muscles can be very painful.
Image Credit: martin-dm/iStock/GettyImages Chest injuries — no matter the cause — typically hurt a lot. If you’re wondering whether you have pulled muscles or bruised ribs, you may be able to tell based on how the injury occurred and the symptoms you are experiencing.
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However, pulled muscles and bruised ribs may also occur together. What's more, trauma to the chest can cause rib fractures or damage your internal organs, so it's wise to seek medical attention if you have sustained a chest injury. Diagnostic imaging may be required to determine the exact cause of your pain.
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A Pulled Muscle in the Chest
The way your injury occurred may help determine whether you have pulled muscles or bruised ribs. Several muscles attach to your ribs, allowing you to twist and bend forward and sideways. These muscles are particularly vulnerable to injury with sports that require throwing or other forceful arm movements along with trunk movement; such sports include bowling and ice hockey.
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In rare cases, pulled muscles may occur with particularly forceful sneezing and coughing or strenuous exercise. Pulled muscles typically cause instant pain over the affected area of your rib cage. You may also experience bruising in the same area.
Read more: Treatment for a Strained Chest Muscle
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Bruised Ribs Cause Tenderness
Bruised ribs are caused by damage to the cartilage that holds your ribs together. This injury typically occurs with blunt trauma, such as seat belt resistance during a motor vehicle accident. However, bruised ribs may also occur with the same activities that cause pulled muscles, including exercise or coughing.
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As the name bruised ribs implies, blood vessels rupture and bruising occurs soon after this injury is sustained. Bruised ribs cause tenderness over the injured area and pain that increases with breathing and trunk movements.
Read more: How to Relieve the Pain of Bruised Ribs
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references
Annals of Thoracic Surgery: Diaphragmatic and Intercostal Muscle Tear After an Episode of Violent Sneezing -- Spontaneous Diaphragmatic Injury
World Journal of Emergency Surgery: Seatbelts and Road Traffic Collision Injuries
American Family Physician: Costochondritis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Monash University: Departments of Medical Imaging & Physiotherapy: Cricket – Intercostal Injuries (Sidestrain)
Is this an emergency?
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the
National Library of Medicine’s list
of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.
references
Annals of Thoracic Surgery: Diaphragmatic and Intercostal Muscle Tear After an Episode of Violent Sneezing -- Spontaneous Diaphragmatic Injury
World Journal of Emergency Surgery: Seatbelts and Road Traffic Collision Injuries
American Family Physician: Costochondritis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Monash University: Departments of Medical Imaging & Physiotherapy: Cricket – Intercostal Injuries (Sidestrain)
Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.
Both bruised ribs and pulled chest muscles can be very painful.
Image Credit: martin-dm/iStock/GettyImages
Image Credit: martin-dm/iStock/GettyImages
Annals of Thoracic Surgery: Diaphragmatic and Intercostal Muscle Tear After an Episode of Violent Sneezing -- Spontaneous Diaphragmatic Injury
World Journal of Emergency Surgery: Seatbelts and Road Traffic Collision Injuries
American Family Physician: Costochondritis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Monash University: Departments of Medical Imaging & Physiotherapy: Cricket – Intercostal Injuries (Sidestrain)
