How does slipping rib syndrome develop?
In many cases a rib slips out of place because the ligaments that hold the ribs to the sternum, the sternocostal ligaments, are weak. Without muscles to hold the ribs in place, loose ligaments allow slipping of the rib, which causes further stretching of the ligament, resulting in severe pain. A simple coughing attack due to a cold may cause the development of slipping rib syndrome. Conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema, allergies and asthma cause additional stress to the sternocostal and costochondral junctions. Even sinusitis, with its associated nose blowing, can be the initial event that leads to chronic chest pain from slipping rib syndrome. Slipping rib syndrome can also be caused by surgery to the lungs, chest, heart or breast with resection of the lymph nodes, all of which put a tremendous amount of stress on the rib attachments because the ribs must be separated to remove the injured tissue. Referred pain, which occurs when a ligament injury or weakness in one part of the b
