If you’ve ever had a sharp, catching pain under your ribs when you twist, breathe deeply, or sit awkwardly — and no one can quite explain it — you might be dealing with something called slipping rib syndrome.
It sounds dramatic. It feels dramatic.
And yes — chiropractic care can help.
🦴 So what is it, exactly?
Slipping rib syndrome (also called costal subluxation or rib tip syndrome) happens when the lower ribs — usually ribs 8 to 10 — become hypermobile or slightly displaced from where they normally attach to the cartilage and connective tissue around them.
These ribs aren’t directly attached to the sternum like the upper ones. They rely more on soft tissue to stay anchored — and when that gets overstretched, injured, or irritated, the rib can “slip” or move excessively.
That movement irritates nearby nerves, muscles, and ligaments — and that’s where the sharp, jabbing pain comes from.
⚠️ What does it feel like?
- Sharp, stabbing pain under the ribcage (often one side only)
- Pain with deep breathing, coughing, laughing, or twisting
- A clicking, popping, or “shifting” feeling in the ribs
- Tenderness around the lower ribs or side of the torso
- A sense that something’s out of place — but hard to pinpoint
It can mimic things like gallbladder issues, indigestion, or even heart symptoms — so it often gets missed or misdiagnosed.
🧠 What causes it?
Slipping rib syndrome can develop from:
- Repetitive twisting or overhead movements
- A fall or impact (even from years ago)
- Hypermobile joints or weak connective tissue
- Poor posture over time (especially rib-flaring or slouching)
- Post-pregnancy changes or abdominal weakness
It often shows up in athletes, dancers, hypermobile individuals, or anyone who’s had trauma to the ribcage area — but it can happen to anyone.
👐 Can a chiropractor help?
Yes — especially one with knowledge and experience in rib and thoracic mobility.
Here’s how chiropractic care can help:
- Identify which rib is misbehaving (and whether it’s a rib, muscle, or nerve referral)
- Restore normal movement to the rib and surrounding joints with gentle, specific adjustments
- Reduce irritation to the local soft tissues
- Improve stability of the ribcage with guided breathing, posture, and core engagement work
- Teach you how to move and recover without constantly re-triggering the pain
The goal isn’t just to “put the rib back.”
It’s to calm the irritation, restore normal mechanics, and stop the cycle of flare-ups.
💡 The bottom line is..
If you’ve had sharp, unpredictable pain near your ribs — and it’s not resolving with rest, heat, or stretching — it might not be a pulled muscle or something in your gut.
It might be a rib that’s moving too much, not too little.
👉 [Book a discovery call] if you want to get it properly assessed and start turning things around.
