Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 3/15/2009

Question
i have a problem with my chest, about 2 weeks ago i felt a pop in my chest after weight was pressed down on top right of my chest. at first i felt no pain but now it hurts nearly constantly, but immense pain when i breathe in deeply, laugh or apply slight pressure to what feels like my 2nd rib on the right. is it possible the pop i felt was a dislocation? and can it be fixed?

Answer
chest pain



Hello Leigh,

Sorry to hear of your chest pain.  When a health professional mentions/ hears 'chest pain' we hit the red panic button and worry about the possibility of 'heart attack'-- I take it we have eliminated that possibility.


".....about 2 weeks ago i felt a pop in my chest after weight was pressed down on top right of my chest.....",  from this I assume you are a weight lifter, athlete of some kind, or do heavy work.

"....at first i felt no pain but now it hurts nearly constantly, but immense pain when i breathe in deeply, laugh or apply slight pressure to what feels like my 2nd rib on the right.....", at first no pain--- not uncommon with an injury, and then increasing pain as the inflammatory cycle kicks in.

".....is it possible the pop i felt was a dislocation.....", yes, very possible.

".....and can it be fixed?....", yes.

One scenario, a possibility, a probability- given what you have described is a sprain/ strain, dislocation/ misalignment of a costo-chondral joint.  You probably injured your chest where the ribs meet the sternum.  Years ago even I suffered from an injury and resulting costo-chondritis.

I would recommend visiting a Doctor of Chiropractic with a sports injury, orthopedic, or rehabilitation specialty.  Examination through history, physical exam, palpation, motion, will tell the doctor if this is a misaligned costo-chondral junction.  Physical therapy to calm the inflammation, manipulation to RE-place the misalignment, and then perhaps kinesiotaping to support the 'joint' in place would be a good course of care.

You have gotten worse, because of the cycle of inflammation.  The pain continues because the misalignment has not been corrected.

See your local DC, get evaluated, it should be helpful and correct the problem.  Chiropractic specialties you could look for:
http://www.acatoday.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf .


I hope this all helps. If you need further, do not hesitate to REcontact me at
AllExperts.com
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC.htm .

Thank you for your question.



I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally,
your Staten Island Chiropractor,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (Email newsletter)



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kinesiotaping:



Olympic  Athletic  Performance                                                       .  
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I have been using kinesio taping in my office over two years.  Very different from regular white athletic strapping tape,  I was one of the early sports docs utilizing this approach.    .
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Fun  to  see  the  articles  on  kinesio taping  at  the  Olympics,  here  is  one:                     .
Watching Olympian Kerri Walsh compete in beach volleyball last week, many viewers were wondering the same thing: what is that black thing on her shoulder?

A tattoo? A bizarre fashion statement? No. Ms. Walsh was sporting a new type of athletic tape called Kinesio, touted by doctors as a better way to relieve pain and promote healing of injured muscles.
The appearance of Kinesio on the well-toned Ms. Walsh — she even wore it while meeting President Bush — has spurred international interest in the little-known brand. In black, pink, blue and beige, the tape has been spotted on a number of other Olympians, including the shoulder of U.S. water polo player Lauren Wenger and the elbows of Canadian Greco Roman wrestler Ari Taub. Members of Spain’s basketball team and Jamaica’s track team are wearing it.
Traditionally, white athletic tapes are wrapped around gauze to form a stiff bandage that immobilizes a joint or muscle. By comparison, the 100-percent cotton Kinesio tape is said to be modeled on the thickness and elasticity of real skin.

The flexible tape is applied to the skin in specific patterns, depending on the injury, a technique designed to create support and guide injured muscles and joints without limiting the athlete’s range of motion.

“This tape moves with the body, so the biomechanics are still there,'’ said John Jarvis, director of Kinesio USA.
Both the tape and the new wrapping technique have spread mostly by word-of-mouth among athletes, doctors and trainers who swear by it. Cycling great Lance Armstrong reportedly dedicates a page to the tape in his latest book. Recently soccer superstar David Beckham traded jerseys after a game and was spotted with pink Kinesio tape on his back.

Some limited data suggest it may be effective. In July, the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Therapy published a study of 42 people with shoulder injuries. Half of them were treated with Kinesio tape applied in a pattern designed to support the injured muscle. The other half were given a “sham” treatment in which two strips of tape were simply pressed across the arm. The study was conducted by physical therapists at Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, Ga., who didn’t receive funding from the tape company (important:  OBJECTIVE study,,, rather than drug research PAID for by drug companies…..).   Notably, the study participants who received the real therapeutic tape treatment reported an  immediate   improvement   in   pain.

Last year, Research in Sports Medicine published a study from San Jose State University showing that in 30 healthy test subjects, use of the tape along the lower trunk area appeared to increase the range of motion.

Kinesio claims that in addition to supporting injured muscles and joints, the new taping method helps relieve pain by lifting the skin, allowing blood to flow more freely to the injured area. The tape is also widely used in pediatric physical therapy for muscle disorders like cerebral palsy.



What Does Kinesio Taping Do?

Kinesio Taping gives support and stability to your joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. It is also used for Preventive Maintenance, Edema, and Pain Management

              Kinesio Taping was invented by a Doctor of Chiropractic, and is utilized- especially by SPORTS Chiropractors throughout the world.  Kinesio Taping helps the body heal naturally, can be used preventatively, as treatment, in rehab, during competition, or as a ‘take home’ treatment applied by the Chiropractor   (medical doctors give drugs, chiropractic doctors give tape) .

              Kinesio Taping is a technique based on the body's own natural healing process. This Kinesio Taping exhibits its efficacy through the activation of neurological and circulatory systems. This method basically stems from the science of Kinesiology, hence the name "Kinesio". Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body but also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms.

               Consequently, so much attention was given to the importance of muscle function that the idea of treating the muscles in order to activate the body's own healing process came about. Using an elastic tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Employment of Kinesio Taping creates a totally new approach to treating nerves, muscles, and organs. The first application of Kinesio Taping was for a patient with articular disorders.

               For the first 10 years, chiropractors, acupuncturists and other medical practitioners were the main users of Kinesio Taping. Soon thereafter, Kinesio Taping was used by the Japanese Olympic volleyball players and word quickly spread to other athletes. Today, Kinesio Taping is accepted by medical practitioners and athletes in Japan, United States, Europe, South America and other Asian countries.

               The Kinesio Taping Method is applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused tired muscles, and to support muscles in movement on a 24hr/day basis. It is non-restrictive type of taping which allows for full range of motion.

               In contrast, traditional sports' taping is wrapped around a joint strictly for stabilization and support during a sporting event obstructing the flow of bodily fluids... an UNDESIRABLE side-effect.

              Kinesio Tape is used for anything from headaches to foot problems and everything in between. Examples include: muscular facilitation or inhibition in pediatric patients, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back strain/pain (subluxations, herniated disc), knee conditions, shoulder conditions, hamstring, groin injury, rotator cuff injury, whiplash, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, patella tracking, pre and post surgical edema, ankle sprains, athletic preventative injury method, and as a support method.

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine