Definition
Between the ribs there are numerous muscle strands that ensure proper breathing and contraction of the chest, when coughing etc. Like any muscle, these muscle bundles can tear or tear through what would be called a classic muscle fiber tear. In contrast to torn muscle fibers in the legs or arms, torn muscle fibers are relatively rare in the area between the ribs. As a rule, a conservative, non-surgical treatment method is completely sufficient. Often a torn muscle fiber between the ribs goes completely unnoticed.
Causes of a torn muscle fiber between the ribs
Torn muscle fibers between the ribs are usually caused by trauma, i.e. either after accidents in which parts of the ribs have been injured by trauma, or when, for example, a very severe cough puts so much strain on the muscles between the ribs that they can no longer withstand the pressure. Accident-related muscle fiber tears usually result in severe rib contusions or even a serial fracture due to a fall or traffic accident. In this case, the muscles between the ribs are inevitably also severely affected and can tear or tear through. Often the pain of the rib contusion or rib fracture is so severe that the pain caused by the accompanying rupture of the muscle fibers is hardly noticed. In the case of a severe cough that persists for several days or even weeks, on the other hand, it can happen that the only pain that patients feel after coughing is the pain of the muscle fiber tears that caused it.
Torn muscle fiber between the ribs due to coughing
Relatively often there are muscle fiber tears between the ribs due to severe coughing. The main reason is that the muscles between the ribs contract when coughing. After coughing, the muscles between the ribs relax again before the next coughing attack is followed by another strong contraction of the muscles between the ribs.
The strength of the movement is very unusual for the muscles between the ribs, since very high forces are exerted on the muscles between the ribs during each coughing attack. There are hundreds of muscular connections between the ribs, which allow the smallest and finest, but also strong and powerful movements in the area of the chest. The muscles that move from rib to rib are also called intercostal muscles.
Strains or torn muscle fibers in this area can cause very strong and prolonged pain. Torn muscle fibers between the ribs, which are caused by a severe cough, are usually not easy to diagnose. Although an MRI can be performed, the diagnostic effort does not justify the cause in this context.
Sometimes an ultrasound of the muscles between the ribs can provide an indication of a rupture of muscle fibers in this area. In the case of a very severe cough, which is present over a long period of time, a complete rupture of a muscle bundle between two ribs may also occur. However, this would not yet result in severe respiratory restrictions, as the remaining numerous muscles would maintain vital breathing.