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.
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