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Thoracic region pain in athletes

  • Published:
Current Sports Medicine Reports

Abstract

Pain in the thoracic region in athletes is more commonly from the thorax than from the thoracic spine. Although the thoracic spine is well protected from motion by the ribs, the chest wall and surrounding muscles are vulnerable to both overuse and acute injury in athletes. These injuries to muscle and bone include stress fractures, muscle strains, and avulsions. They are diagnosed primarily by history and physical examination. Bone scan is the most useful test if there is a question of a stress fracture. Most of these injuries respond to conservative treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School, 1 Medical Center Drive, 03756, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Kristine A. Karlson MD

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  1. Kristine A. Karlson MD
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Karlson, K.A. Thoracic region pain in athletes. Curr Sports Med Rep 3, 53–57 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11932-004-0046-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11932-004-0046-5

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