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Chest pain is a common symptom that can be caused by a variety of factors, including musculoskeletal and cardiac conditions. While cardiac chest pain is considered typical, musculoskeletal chest pain, originating from the muscles, bones, and tissues of the chest wall, can also lead to discomfort. This includes pulled or strained chest muscles, which can result from various activities and cause sharp or dull pain, depending on the type of strain. In some cases, a pulled arm muscle may contribute to chest pain, especially if certain movements or activities are performed that involve the arm and chest together. Therefore, understanding the potential link between a pulled arm muscle and chest pain is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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What You'll Learn
Pulled chest muscle causes
A pulled chest muscle can be caused by overstretching or pressure on the muscles. It is a tear in the muscle from overstretching. Sports, weightlifting, and manual labor are common ways to pull a chest muscle. It can also be caused by a persistent cough or a chest cold. Certain illnesses may also cause muscle strain in the chest. Adults are more likely to develop chest pulls or injuries as a result of car accidents or athletic activities.
Chest muscles include the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor, as well as the intercostal muscles. The pectoralis major muscles are the fan-shaped muscles that go from your armpits to the center of your breastbone. The pectoralis minor muscles are smaller muscles under the pectoralis major that run along your ribs, just under your collarbone. The intercostal muscles run between the ribs and form the chest wall. While it is possible to strain the pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscles, nearly half of all chest muscle strains occur in the intercostal muscles.
Classic symptoms of a strained chest muscle include pain, which may be sharp (an acute pull) or dull (a chronic strain). The pain may worsen with movement, deep breathing, or coughing. Other symptoms include tenderness when touching the injured muscle, pain with arm movements, and difficulty moving the arm. There may also be bruising, swelling, or muscle twitching or spasms.
If you are experiencing chest pain, it is important to seek medical attention, especially if you are unsure of the cause. A doctor will ask about your symptoms, your health history, and any activities that may have contributed to your pain. They will then be able to categorize the injury and provide appropriate treatment.
The treatment for a pulled chest muscle depends on the severity of the injury. The usual treatment is to reduce pain and swelling by avoiding strenuous activity and applying cold compresses to the area. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can help relieve pain and inflammation. For more severe cases, surgery may be needed to repair torn muscles.
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Chest pain differentiation
Chest pain is a common symptom that can be challenging to differentiate due to the various potential causes. Differentiating chest pain is crucial as it can arise from relatively benign conditions, such as musculoskeletal issues, to more serious conditions like heart problems or pulmonary embolism. Here is some information to help differentiate chest pain:
Musculoskeletal Chest Pain
Musculoskeletal chest pain originates from the muscles, bones, and tissues enclosing the heart and lungs, known as the chest wall. This type of pain is distinct from cardiac pain (angina) but can be challenging to differentiate. Common causes include:
- Muscle strains or pulls: This can occur due to overstretching, pressure, or repetitive motions in sports, manual labour, or activities like weightlifting. It often results in sharp or dull pain and may be associated with swelling, bruising, or muscle spasms.
- Rib fractures: Trauma, accidents, or repetitive stress can cause rib fractures, leading to chest wall pain.
- Arthritis and rheumatic conditions: These can cause inflammation and pain in the chest wall.
Cardiac Chest Pain
Cardiac chest pain, often referred to as "typical chest pain," is usually related to the heart and its blood supply. It is characterised by:
- Pressure, squeezing, or clenching sensation in the centre of the chest.
- Pain that may spread to the neck, jaw, or down the arms.
- Possible accompanying symptoms: tingling, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
- Worsening with exercise and improvement with rest.
- Relief with nitroglycerin.
Other Causes of Chest Pain
Chest pain can also be caused by various other conditions, including:
- Pleuritis: Inflammation of the tissue lining the lungs, causing sharp, sudden pain that increases when taking a breath. It may be accompanied by fever, coughs, and generalised muscle aches.
- Pulmonary embolism: A blockage in the blood vessels within the lungs, often due to a blood clot, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Pericarditis: Inflammation of the tissue layers surrounding the heart, resulting in sharp, stabbing pain on the left side or front part of the chest.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Characterised by acid reflux, which can cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone.
- Pancreatitis: Intense abdominal pain that can radiate up to the chest, sometimes triggered by gallstones.
- Panic attack: Intense anxiety that activates the body's fight-or-flight response, which can feel similar to a heart attack.
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Treatment and recovery
If you are experiencing a sharp pain in your chest as a result of a pulled arm muscle, you should first stop any activity as soon as you notice the pain. You can then apply a cold compress to the affected area for 20 minutes, up to three times a day. This will help to reduce any pain and swelling. You should also keep your arm elevated, especially at night, and sleep in a recliner if possible. You can take pain relievers to reduce inflammation, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If you have a chronic strain, you may benefit from physical therapy and exercises to correct muscle imbalances that contribute to the strain. A doctor may prescribe a tailored exercise plan to help restore and maintain muscle function, strength, and flexibility.
For more severe or persistent pain, a doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers, muscle relaxants, or both to reduce painful muscle spasms. If you have a severe muscle tear, rupture, or bone damage, surgery may be required to repair the torn muscle.
Your recovery time will depend on the severity of your strain. Mild pulls may heal within two to three weeks, while more serious strains can take months to heal, especially if surgery is required. It is important to follow any instructions provided by your doctor and to avoid doing too much too soon, as this may aggravate or worsen your injury.
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Risk factors
While chest pain is most commonly associated with heart attacks, it can also be caused by strained or pulled muscles in the chest, which is much less serious but can be quite painful.
- Sports injuries: Sports that involve forceful or repetitive motion, such as tennis, golf, gymnastics, rowing, and weightlifting, can strain the pectoral muscles in the chest, as well as muscles in the shoulders and arms.
- Falls or accidents: An accidental fall or a car crash can cause rib fractures or strain the chest and arm muscles.
- Overuse or overexertion: Engaging in strenuous exercises or heavy lifting without proper warm-up can lead to muscle strain.
- Age: Older individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing chest wall injuries from falls and accidents.
- Pre-existing conditions: Certain illnesses, such as a chest cold or bronchitis, can cause muscle strain in the chest during coughing.
- Lack of warm-up and cool-down: Cold muscles are more vulnerable to strain. Warming up before exercising and cooling down afterward can help prevent muscle strain.
- Poor technique or overexertion during weightlifting: If your arm is pulled back and overhead quickly or for prolonged periods during weightlifting, it can cause a chest strain.
- Lack of rest: Continuing strenuous activities without allowing your body to rest can lead to repetitive strain injuries.
- Tired muscles: Fatigued muscles are more susceptible to strain. It is important to listen to your body and take rest days as needed.
- Poor lifting technique: Not lifting heavy objects carefully and correctly can increase the risk of muscle strain.
- Lack of safety precautions: Engaging in activities that involve a risk of falling or injury without taking necessary precautions, such as using handrails when going up or down stairs, can increase the risk of falls and subsequent muscle strains.
- Poor equipment maintenance: Using athletic equipment without checking its condition can increase the risk of injury.
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When to seek medical attention
Chest pain is not normal. If you are experiencing chest pain, you should seek medical attention to get a diagnosis and the treatment you need. Chest pain can come from heart, lung, digestive, or other issues, and it can be difficult to diagnose because it has so many causes.
If you experience chest pain, pay attention to any other symptoms you are experiencing and make a mental note of what you were doing when the pain happened so you can tell your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing chest pain alongside pain in your arm, the odds of it being a cardiac problem increase.
If you suspect you are having a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number and go to the nearest emergency room. Do not drive yourself. A heart attack is a potentially life-threatening emergency that demands immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing chest pain that has come on suddenly, lasts longer than five minutes, or is accompanied by other symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms that may accompany a heart attack include:
- Pain or a burning sensation in your chest after a meal (this could be heartburn, a common symptom of acid reflux)
- Pain that worsens with movement or when lifting something (this could be muscular)
- Pressure, tightness, squeezing, or clenching in your chest
- Pain or heaviness in your arms, back, neck, jaw, upper abdomen, or shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Irregular heart rate
If you are experiencing chest pain that is caused by a pulled muscle, your healthcare provider will determine if it is acute (due to an injury or trauma) or chronic (due to repetitive use) and will assign a grade based on the severity of the injury. Mild pulls may heal as soon as two or three weeks after injury, but more serious strains can take months to heal, especially if you have had surgery.
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Frequently asked questions
A pulled arm muscle is a tear in the muscle from overstretching, pressure, or strain.
Yes, a pulled arm muscle can cause chest pain. This is because the pectoralis major muscle, which is a large muscle at the front of the chest, is used to rotate the arm inwards, pull a horizontal arm across the body, pull the arm from above the head down, and pull the arm from the side upwards.
Treatment for a pulled muscle typically involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can also help relieve pain and inflammation. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to repair torn muscles.
