Rib Cage Trauma and Chiropractic Care: Your Path to Recovery
Are you experiencing discomfort or pain from rib cage trauma? Whether it was DIY gone wrong, an overzealous hug, a sport SNAFU, or a dance floor disaster, chest injuries can happen to anyone. Fortunately, our chiropractors are here to help you on your road to recovery. Call us on (02) 9523 9940 to book an appointment today. In the meantime, let’s delve into what’s going on with these injuries and how chiropractic care can assist.
Understanding Rib Cage Trauma
Trauma to the rib cage encompasses various injuries, including fractures, bruises, and muscle strains. These injuries can result from accidents or direct blows to the chest. Common types include rib cage depression and sternum trauma. Not fun!
Effects on General Movement of the Spine
The rib cage plays a crucial role in stabilising the spine and facilitating movement. Trauma to this area can significantly impact spinal mobility, leading to:
- Reduced Range of Motion : Injuries to the ribs can cause stiffness and pain, limiting the spine’s ability to bend and twist.
- Postural Imbalances : Pain and discomfort may lead to compensatory postures, affecting the spine’s alignment and increasing the risk of further musculoskeletal conditions.
- Muscle Spasms : Trauma can trigger muscle spasms in the back, further restricting movement and causing additional pain.
Impact on Breathing Mechanics
The rib cage is essential for proper breathing mechanics, protecting the lungs and supporting the respiratory muscles. Trauma can disrupt these functions, resulting in:
- Shallow Breathing : Pain from injuries can make deep breathing difficult, leading to shallow, rapid breaths.
- Reduced Lung Capacity : In severe cases, trauma can decrease lung capacity, impacting overall respiratory efficiency.
- Increased Risk of Respiratory Complications : Impaired breathing mechanics can increase the risk of respiratory infections and complications.
Effects on Fluid Dynamics
Fluid dynamics in the body, including blood flow and lymphatic drainage, can be affected by trauma to the chest:
- Circulatory Issues : Restricted movement and muscle spasms can impede blood flow, leading to swelling and discomfort.
- Lymphatic Stagnation : Impaired fluid dynamics can hinder lymphatic drainage, contributing to inflammation and delayed healing.
Impact on Daily Activities and Work
Trauma to the rib cage can significantly impact an individual’s ability to work and perform daily activities. The pain and reduced mobility make even the most mundane tasks like hanging laundry on the line a challenge. Forget about DIY, sports, or pillow fights with the kids! This interruption of everything you need and want to do, along with the health impacts is not sustainable. So, what can you do about it?
Chiropractic Care for Rib Cage Trauma
You might thing we’re spine guys. But we’re here to help you manage chest trauma and its associated effects too. We focus on holistic, non-invasive treatments to promote healing and improve overall well-being, often starting at the spine, but treating the whole body. How does that work? We’re so glad you asked…
Improving spinal alignment, improves overall mobility, reducing stiffness and pain, relieving muscle spasms and tension and enhancing nerve function. All of this helps you get on with the things you need and want to do and promotes overall healing.
But that’s not all we’ll do. Chiropractors can guide patients through breathing exercises to improve respiratory function, which may have been impacted by the trauma. We might also use soft tissue therapies to reduce pain and inflammation and work on blood flow and lymphatic drainage. It’s likely that we’ll also prescribe some exercises. But these aren’t just any exercises as you do at the gym. They will be tailored precisely to you to help you recover.
- Strengthening Exercises : Strengthening the muscles surrounding the rib cage and spine can improve stability and prevent further injuries.
- Flexibility Training : Stretching exercises help maintain flexibility and reduce stiffness in the chest and spine.
- Functional Training : Rehabilitation programmes can include functional exercises to improve daily activities and work performance.
We’ll also provide ergonomic advice, helping you to get through daily tasks without further aggravating your injury.
Conclusion
Trauma to the rib cage can have far-reaching effects on general movement, breathing mechanics, fluid dynamics, and the ability to perform daily activities. At Bayside Chiropractic, we’re here with non-invasive, holistic care to help you manage these effects and promote recovery. By addressing spinal alignment, respiratory function, and soft tissue health, we aim to help you regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life.
If you’re experiencing chest trauma, don’t let it hold you back. Contact us at (02) 9523 9940 to schedule an appointment with our experienced chiropractors. Follow us on Facebook for more health tips and updates. We look forward to joining your team!
Information provided in this article (including text, graphics, images, outbound links, and other material) is for informational purposes only. It is general in nature and is not to be used or considered as a substitute for personalised professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified allied health provider regarding any symptoms, medical conditions, or treatments and before undertaking any new health care regimen.
References
Foley, C. M., Sugimoto, D., Mooney, D. P., Meehan III, W. P., & Stracciolini, A. (2019). Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 29(1), 18-23.
