Can I Run with a Fractured/Bruised Rib

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I broke / fractured a couple of fibs years ago while snowboarding. It didn't hurt too bad when I did it (just felt like I "had the wind knock out of me"). When I got home from the trip a few days later, man was I in pain! I couldn't run at all (breathing, laughing, coughing was very, very painful). I tried to run one day and only took a few steps before stopping. Unless you have a really high pain tolerance of have some Percocet / opiates to take prior to runs I can't see how you can possibly run (assuming you actually fractured some ribs / have the correct diagnosis). It took about 4 weeks to heal but once I got back into running it was fine, I PR'd at 10k and the marathon later that year. Good luck.

I finished training and ran the Boston Marathon with a Fractured/Bruised rib.

I tripped on some debris and did a superman dive only partially breaking my fall with hands and forearms but mostly my chest. Hurt like hell, finished my workout and realized something was wrong. I took a few days off but realized walking and running was a pretty comfortable position vs. sitting or sleeping. I was probably 2 weeks prior to the marathon and decided it was not affecting my running and not too painful to skip the race.

My advice is to have an x-ray to make sure that there is no severe damage which could cause other internal problems.

Probably not. Many muscles essential to running either insert or arise either in whole or in part from the ribs including all layers of the abdominals, the intercostals (essential for forced respiration, as are the abdominals), the diaphragm, serratis posterior and anterior, pectoralis minor and the sternal head of pectoralis major (essential for controlled armswing), latissimus dorsi and certain subsets of the erector spinae group.

At the very least get an X-ray first.

*serratus

hrtf wrote:

Probably not. Many muscles essential to running either insert or arise either in whole or in part from the ribs including all layers of the abdominals, the intercostals (essential for forced respiration, as are the abdominals), the diaphragm, serratis posterior and anterior, pectoralis minor and the sternal head of pectoralis major (essential for controlled armswing), latissimus dorsi and certain subsets of the erector spinae group.

At the very least get an X-ray first.

What the hell is all this? Just run through it. When I cracked my rib I trained through it. It hurt like a bitch for a while. You probably won't get much out of anything harder than tempos, but you can get a lot of work done that way. Be a man. If you train through it, you'll heal with full range of motion because of all the activity.

AKMarmoset wrote:

What the hell is all this? Just run through it. When I cracked my rib I trained through it. It hurt like a bitch for a while. You probably won't get much out of anything harder than tempos, but you can get a lot of work done that way. Be a man. If you train through it, you'll heal with full range of motion because of all the activity.

A crack is not a fracture and I wouldn't have advised you run through it either. I have no idea which rib is fractured, or what portion. A vein, an artery and a nerve run underneath each and every rib, so fractures are serious business and running with one is always a bad idea, no exceptions.

You can do what you like and I accept your experience ended up okay, but it's irresponsible to advise anything except to sit it out or at least get an X-ray. Spears of bone yanked to and fro by muscles while sitting right near lungs = bad time.

Thank you for the advice. I think the X-Ray would be the next step. I have still been running everyday and the last 3 days have been progressively a little more painful each time. I am guessing that could be from a bruise developing and swelling that did not happen right when I did it.

I am supposed to run a 5k tonight, I am planning of jumping on the treadmill a little later and seeing how it feels. It does feel a little better today than it did yesterday but it still hurts to the touch and at the end of a deep breath.

I've run with both a fractured sternum and a bruised rib, around 40 mpw. I wouldn't recommend either but it can be done if one is stubborn/stupid enough.

1955 wrote:

it can be done if one is stubborn/stupid enough.

Sounds good to me!

WhitePony wrote:

Thank you for the advice. I think the X-Ray would be the next step. I have still been running everyday and the last 3 days have been progressively a little more painful each time. I am guessing that could be from a bruise developing and swelling that did not happen right when I did it.

I am supposed to run a 5k tonight, I am planning of jumping on the treadmill a little later and seeing how it feels. It does feel a little better today than it did yesterday but it still hurts to the touch and at the end of a deep breath.

Which rib, and how did it happen? I am not attempting a diagnosis - that's for your radiologist and good on you for being sensible - but I'm interested.

It's possible you haven't fractured it from what you say (still get an X-ray).

It is on the right side almost right under my nipple and a little towards the sternum. Hurts to the touch, about one inch wide and one inch tall hurts to the touch. I feel a slight bump on there due to swelling I am sure.

It seems to feel better than yesterday but I might also be trying to convince myself I am ok to run.

Tour de France guys ride with broken collarbones. You'll be fine.

forreal2 wrote:

Tour de France guys ride with broken collarbones. You'll be fine.

That's what I like to hear. Thanks!

Hmm. That's the third rib, nipple placement varies but about where the costal cartilages articulate with the rib proper,and also pectoralis minor. I doubt it's a fracture, probably a bruise. Rib fractures are very painful. The area is given to bruising as there's not a lot of soft tissue.

Anyway, get it checked, or if you're poor just give it a few days, maybe a week. If it's a bruise the pain and swelling will subside. If not, well, it won't.

Thanks! Went over to the park on my lunch break and ran a tiny bit in street clothes. Every step on the right side was painful and breathing was tough. I am setting up a doctor's appointment for this afternoon, I will post what they tell me for anyone curious.

Please do - the 'accident' (sounds more like unintended assault lol - he's lucky you're not litigious_ was unusual to say the least so I'm interested to hear what someone with actual qualifications thinks (I'm getting there but a very long ways to go yet). I doubt it's a fracture but he's definitely manhugged you into some form of soft tissue injury. Can't for the life of me think what.

Good luck, and 'good onya mate' (as we actually really do say in Oz) for being cautious.