Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 2/27/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a pain that is dead center in my back when i sit down on hard surfaces, and a lot of times when I'm walking for extended periods.  However, the more I lift weights and run the pain doesn't exist at that time only.  ALSO one main concern is that I have a rib that pokes out much higher than the other one, and it is visibly misaligned.  Are there serious ramifications from this misalignment, what could cause this, and is there any treatment? Thank you!

ANSWER: You might want to find a good chiropractor; we treat rib misalignments many times in our office.misalignments, as well as causing pain, can cause a change in your biomechanics, which would be detrimental in the long run.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what kind of changes to biomechanics?  It seems quite possible that at 24, this misalignment may be already causing problems in the way im able to move

Answer
Muscles will tense and relax, changing the way the ribs move, referring back to the Thoracic spine, changing how it moves.  It can affect your breathing, as the change in biomechanics changes the rib cage shape during inspiration,and also may lead to pain.