Costochondritis

Costochondritis

Inflammation of the cartilage portions of our ribs. Typically, this is caused by dysfunction within the rib joint itself, either at the attachment to the spine or at the attachment to the sternum (breast bone) and can be restored through chiropractic neurology care. 



Normal physiology for our ribs

  • They should move freely in a bucket handle type motion, allowing for expansion of our rib cage and lungs so we can exchange oxygen.

  • They are a joint, and must glide and move to allow normal biomechanical function and neurological signaling. 

  • Our ribs have muscles between them, known as intercostal muscles that can become strain or dysfunctional if there is injury to the muscle itself, or the joints that correspond to them.

  • Normal breathing rate is around 12 breaths per minute

 

Abnormal physiology 

  • When ribs don't move freely they cause irritaton, inflammation and nerve irritation that can be localized at the rib joints, or along the rib where patients feel pain along their sides. 

  • This can contribute to constochondritis sensation of pain

  • Rib dysfunction can also contribute to anxiety, dizziness, and other neurological symptoms as a result of hyperventilation (breathing too much) due to lack of rib expansion, causing the individual to breathe in an upwards direction, rather than outward (normal) expansion.

  • When we hyperventilate, we breathe off too much CO2, and the body uses CO2 levels to determine how much blood flow/oxygen we need as CO2 is a byproduct of metabolism. So, if we have low CO2 in our blood at the brain level, then the body assumes we're not using our brain as much and it doesn't require as much O2, triggering a sympathetic response and constricting blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, resulting in light headed, anxiety, dizziness, headaches, migraines and more. 

Diagnosis & Treatment

  • Diagnosis consists of evaluating breating and rib function to determine the specific area involved that is causing costochondritis

    Once that has been determined, specific treatments that consist of comprehensive chiropractic neurology care to the affected rib that may include gentle and safe chiropractic adjustments, cold laser therapy, active muscle release, percussor muscle therapy, ventricular muscle stimulation, intersegmental traction, and hyperbaric oxgyen therapy. 

  • After completing costochondritis treatment, you are released as a patient and welcome to return for other issues as needed.

 

We are located in Portland, Maine, and have treated many costochondritis cases successfully with our comprehensive chiropractic neurology approach. Please contact us if you are suffering from this condition or any other condition as we may be able to help. 

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