Fractured Rib

What is a fractured rib?

This injury is common in contact sports and usually occurs when you have a hard impact to the chest such as an elbow.

Fractured rib symptoms include:

• Pain and swelling at a particular point in the ribs.
• Pain when you breathe in deeply or when you cough or sneeze.
• Pain at a specific point when someone presses in over the whole of your rib cage

What can the athlete do?

• Rest is all you can do.
• If it is very severe then you should seek medical attention to ensure no damage has been done inside the rib cage. If you have a severe fracture of the ribs I think you would know about it!

What can a sports injury specialist or doctor do?

• There is not much a sports injury specialist can do except confirm the diagnosis and advise rest.
• A doctor can X-ray the ribs and rule out any internal damage.

How long will it take to heal?

• If it is not a severe fracture then you should be back in action from between 3 to 6 weeks so long as you rest.
• If you do not rest then it will not be given the chance to heal.