Have you ever experienced a sudden sharp pain in your back that seems to come out of nowhere? Or maybe you've noticed that your posture has been off lately, and you just can't seem to get comfortable? It's possible that you have a rib out of place. This surprisingly common issue can cause significant discomfort and frustration, but the good news is that there are things you can do to alleviate the pain and correct the problem.



This past weekend, we were at a neighbor's birthday party. We ate an All-American meal of burgers and brats. As I placed the last bite of bratwurst in my mouth, I squeezed the bun a little too hard. It shot the bratwurst straight back into my throat. I couldn't get it to come back up, so I clenched down and tried to swallow it whole. That only made things worse. My eyes began to water, and I couldn't get a breath in or out.



Not wanting to draw attention from the crowd gathered in the kitchen, I tapped my friend, a former firefighter, on the shoulder and subtly gave him the universal "I'm choking" signal. Not sure if I was joking or not, he quietly confirmed with me, then got behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. The brat popped back into my mouth, where I continued to chew it.



Our neighbor is 6'8" and strong as a bull, so I wasn't surprised when I woke up the next morning with pain in my back and difficulty getting in a full breath. Clearly, my rib had slipped out of place on my back from the Heimlich.



That was the second time I experienced a rib subluxation. Last summer, before I broke my neck, I picked up our Toro Timemaster 30" mower to put it in the back of the truck. Because it's so wide, I didn't have the best posture when I stood up with it and immediately felt my rib move out of place. Since it's happened to me a couple of times now, I figured it was time to write about what causes a rib to get out of place on your back, what the symptoms are, and what you can do to treat it.



Whether you're an athlete, a desk jockey, or simply someone who wants to feel your best, read on to learn how to keep your back in top shape.





What is Rib Subluxation (Slipped Rib)?



A rib subluxation occurs when one of the ribs in your chest moves out of its normal position. This can happen for various reasons, including injury, poor posture, or even just coughing or sneezing too hard. When a rib is out of place, it can put pressure on your nerves and cause pain, discomfort, and even difficulty breathing.Donatelli, R. (2009). Physical therapy of the shoulder. Elsevier Health Sciences.



Rib subluxation is a common problem and can affect people of all ages and activity levels.Schafer, R. C. (1990). Chiropractic Management of Sports and Recreational Injuries. Williams & Wilkins. It's especially common among athletes, who may experience rib subluxation as a result of repetitive motions or sudden impacts.Haldeman, S., & Dagenais, S. (2001). A supermarket approach to the evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain. Spine Journal, 1(1), 1-7. However, anyone can experience rib subluxation, and knowing how to recognize the symptoms and treat the problem is crucial.



If you think you may have a rib out of place, seek treatment as soon as possible. Left untreated, rib subluxation can lead to chronic pain, discomfort, and other health problems.Koes, B. W., van Tulder, M., & Thomas, S. (2006). Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. BMJ, 332(7555), 1430-1434.



Causes and Symptoms of a Rib Out of Place



Many different things can cause a rib to get out of place on your back. Some of the most common causes include:




Injury: A blow to the chest or back can cause a rib to become dislocated or out of place.Gatterman, M. I. (2005). Chiropractic management of spine related disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.



Poor posture: Sitting or standing with poor posture can put pressure on your ribs and cause them to shift out of place.Bogduk, N. (2005).