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Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the chest (sternum).
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, irritation, or injury.
Usual symptoms that occur are pain, redness, swelling, difficulty with upper body movements, such as lifting weights, breathing, sneezing, and more.
Gym exercises, such as chest press, shoulder press or pull-ups are some of the usual exercises that are affected too, as they involve use of the chest muscles and ribs.
A direct impact or a sudden or a repetitive movement may lead to this inflammation.
Underlying health conditions can contribute to the onset of the symptoms and delay the recovery, such as a heart condition, endocrine disease and autoimmune disorder.
Usual symptoms that occur are pain, redness, swelling and difficulty with upper body movements, such as lifting weights, breathing, sneezing, and more.
Usual symptoms that occur are pain, redness, swelling, difficulty with upper body movements, such as lifting weights, breathing, sneezing, and more.
Direct pressure to the costochondral junction can make the symptoms worse, uncomfortable sitting and driving positions, and using a seatbelt can also trigger the area.
Gym exercises, such as chest press, shoulder press, pull-ups are some of the usual exercises that are affected too, involving chest muscles and ribs.
A condition that is mimicking costochondritis is what is known as Tietze’s syndrome.
It is a much less common inflammatory condition that is affecting the same area, it causes similar symptoms, can resolve on its own, though the reason for this inflammation is not known.
Costochondritis usually is seen in adults aged 40 or over, whereas Tietze’s syndrome is most common among young adults under 40.
Costochondritis can be diagnosed by the history of the condition and the present symptoms. Occasionally, further investigation is needed to exclude other pathologies and make the diagnosis clear.
Further investigation may include; an electrocardiogram (ECG) for the heart, a blood test to check for signs of underlying inflammation, and a chest X-ray.
Come and see one of our practitioners, physio, osteopath or chiropractor first and if they think you need a steroid injection they can refer you to one of the SEM or MSK doctors we have at Blackberry Clinic.
Pain relief and anti-inflammatory intervention can be provided by your doctor and physiotherapist, depending on the potential cause. These include activity modification, relaxing and strengthening exercise, manual therapy and soft tissue techniques of the affected joints and muscles, acupuncture and electro-acupuncture, T.E.N.S, medication and corticosteroid injection.
Following treatment at Blackberry Clinic, Milton Keynes my back pain improved and I could play for my country again
Just wanted to say please pass my thanks to my osteopath, I came yesterday with terrible back and shoulder pain and today I am pain free, am well delighted as had a day planned with friends was worried I wouldn’t enjoy, please pass my thanks onto her.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lorena has changed my life. Four months ago, having been diagnosed as having “severe, acute and chronic” disc degeneration I genuinely thought I was facing a life of disability (I am 49).
Lorena has re-taught me how to move my body and how to think about what muscles I engage to a point that I am now running, swimming and doing pilates again and have almost full flexibility in my spine. It almost feels like Lorena can see through your skin to your muscles, so profound is her understanding of how the body moves.
After a course of Prolotherapy my back pain has gone and I live a normal life. I can’t thank Dr Petrides enough for giving me back my quality of life
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