Home
Marc Jones, DO (UK)
Osteopath
Osteopathy
Osteopathic Articles
UK Osteopathic Fact Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Links
Contact and Addresses
Osteopathy For Pain Relief
Headaches - Stiff Neck - Whiplash Injuries - Arm Pain - Trapped Nerves - "Frozen" or Stiff Shoulders - Tennis & Golfer's Elbow - Wrist & Hand Pain - Low Back Pain - Sciatica - "Slipped Disc (Disk)" - Hip, Thigh & Knee Problems - Leg Pain - Back Pain in Pregnancy - Postural Problems - Calf, Shin, Ankle & Foot Pain - Pain & Stiffness from Arthritis - Sports Injuries. Why Suffer Pain?
What do osteopaths treat? Click here
|
Rib Pain
by Marc Jones, BSc(Hons) Ost, DO (UK), Osteopath
February 2006
The rib cage is designed to enable breathing; to protect the heart, lungs, liver and spleen; to act as a point of attachment for the shoulder and arm; and to give an area of stability for the vertebral column.
The image below shows a number of features of the rib cage:
True ribs (attaching directly to the sternum)
False ribs (attaching indirectly to the sternum)
Floating ribs (do not attach to the sternum).
Clavicle (collar bone) - the ONLY bony link between the shoulder joint and the thorax.
Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects for patients with rib pain is in actually realising where the ribs are located. Do not forget that your ribs are found at the base of your neck, under the clavicle, deep in the armpit, attaching to the sternum and in between the shoulder blades.
There are many types of injury and pain associated with ribs that are amenable to osteopathic treatment, whether primary or in a rehabilitation phase:
Primary examples:
Chronic rib cage dysfunction (e.g. associated with asthma)
Chronic rib joint lesions
Acute rib joint lesions
Floating rib impingement
False rib subluxation
Scoliosis
Shoulder dysfunction (gleno-humeral and scapulo-thoracic)
Thoracic spine joint injury
Rehabilitation examples:
Fracture
Osteoporosis
Shingles (herpes zoster)
Cardiovascular and respiratory disorders
Pleurisy
The rib cage is a very stiff area at the best of times and increasing function is essential for many conditions including for those patients whom are suffering from chronic neck or lower back conditions.
Some rib related conditions respond very quickly because the continual movement of breathing encourages mobility and decreases some local stiffness. Unfortunately, the inherent stiffness and stability of the rib cage does not lend itself to quick fixes with chronic conditions, but the sooner osteopathic treatment is started, the better the results will be. Long term issues that can affect posture, such as scoliosis or osteoporosis, can also gain improvements from gentle osteopathic intervention.
The image above is courtesy of Peterborough Operating Department Practitioners .
Top
Copyright © Marc Jones - Osteopath (UK), Osteopathy Vancouver 2003 onwards
|
