A muscle strain in your chest can feel scary, especially because chest pain can come from many different causes. If your symptoms seem linked to movement, lifting, coughing or exercise, a chest wall muscle strain may be one possible reason. Before you treat chest pain like a muscle strain, it’s important to know when to get medical care. Call 911 or seek emergency help for new, severe or unexplained chest pain, chest pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, nausea

It starts with a sharp catch in your chest when you laugh, or perhaps a dull ache that lingers every time you take a deep breath. If you have ever strained the muscles between your ribs, known as the intercostal muscles, you know that it can be a frightening and uncomfortable experience. Because these muscles help your chest expand and contract, nearly every movement can feel like a reminder of the injury. Let’s walk through what the intercostal muscles do, why strains happe

If you’ve ever stretched your arms or back and heard a little “pop” or “crack” in your chest, it can be a little disconcerting and make...