Region: Chest
A strain or tear of the muscles between the ribs, often caused by twisting, overuse, or sudden force.
What is an Intercostal Muscle Strain?
A strain or tear of the muscles between the ribs, often caused by twisting, overuse, or sudden force.
Symptoms
- Sharp or aching rib pain
- Pain with twisting or bending
- Pain with deep breathing
- Muscle tightness
- Tenderness between ribs
What does an Intercostal Muscle Strain feel like?
- Sharp pain with movement
- Worse when twisting or reaching
- Pain with deep breaths or coughing
What are common causes of an Intercostal Muscle Strain?
- Twisting movements in sports
- Sudden rotation or stretching
- Overuse during training
- Forceful coughing
Self check
- Does twisting your torso make it worse?
- Does it hurt to take a deep breath?
- Can you pinpoint pain between ribs?
Educational only — not a medical diagnosis.
What to do now
- Rest from aggravating movement
- Ice 10–15 minutes
- Avoid twisting or heavy activity
- Gentle movement as tolerated
Red flags
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Chest pain worsening quickly
- Pain not improving over time
Recovery tips
- Gradually return to movement
- Avoid sudden twisting early
- Strengthen core muscles
- Progress activity slowly
Educational only. Not a medical diagnosis.