Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 2/5/2010

Question
hello, i am 15 and i keep popping out my ribs. i keep having to go to the chiropractor to get them adjusted, and i was wondering if there was any way to prevent them from popping out again? like strengthening the muscles around them? would that help?

thanks

Answer
Thanks for your question.

Generally, ribs can become displaced in the back where they attach to the vertebra, particularly if someone coughs or sneezes forcefully, sustains a trauma (as in athletics), or has muscle spasms that pull the rib out of place. Typically, when the rib is displaced, breathing in feels produces a sharp, knife-like pain.

People who let their shoulders round forward and let their head drop forward, causing the muscles in the back of the neck, shoulders, upper back, and shoulder blades to tighten, may experience chronic rib displacements due to the constant muscle tension.

Trying to keep the shoulders and head straight rather than slumping forward may help, as well as stretching the muscles of the upper chest (see the pectoralis stretch in this link:)

http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/PectoralisMinor/Doorway.html

I hope that this helps to answer your question.