Mid-Back & Ribs

Costochondritis

Also called: Chest wall inflammation

Inflammation of the cartilage joining ribs to the breastbone, causing front-of-chest pain that's tender to the touch. A common, benign cause of chest pain — but chest pain always earns a careful evaluation before settling on this diagnosis.

Common signs

Aching or sharp pain beside the breastbone, often left side
Reproduced by pressing on the spot
Worse with deep breaths, coughing, or certain movements
No swelling (if visibly swollen, that's a related condition called Tietze syndrome)

Seek help now if

Chest pain with exertion, pressure, radiation to arm/jaw, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating — emergency evaluation
Fever, or chest pain with recent infection
Trauma to the chest

If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.

What to do first

Establish safety first: cardiac and pulmonary causes are excluded by history, exam, and testing as needed
Relative rest from aggravating movements (push-ups, heavy carrying)
Heat and gentle mobility for the mid-back and chest wall

The longer road

Lingering cases respond to thoracic spine mobility work — a stiff mid-back overloads the front chest joints
Review training loads (pressing volume) and posture

Natural healing options we use

Thoracic chiropractic care to unload the front of the chest wall
Gentle soft tissue therapy around (not aggressively on) the tender joints
PEMF for inflammation
Omega-3 and anti-inflammatory nutrition support

About imaging

Normal in costochondritis; testing is used to exclude other causes of chest pain, not to confirm this one.

Daily self-care

Pec doorway stretches and thoracic extension daily
Temporarily reduce pressing exercises
Full easy breathing — don't guard

Book a visit Call 469-620-6245 All conditions

How we can help

Keep working on it at home

Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.

Ribs & breath Bulletproofing Mid-back Bulletproofing The Body Audit: test your own range

More in Mid-Back & Ribs

Thoracic Sprain/Strain Rib Joint Dysfunction Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Scheuermann's Kyphosis Intercostal Neuralgia Upper Crossed / Postural Syndrome Postural Hyperkyphosis

Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.