Exercises With Burning In The Rib Cage

Feeling the burn in your muscles means you are working your hardest. However, feeling the burn in your rib cage can mean that your muscular fitness isn't limiting your exercise program; you may need to train your respiratory muscles. Burning in the rib cage with exercise can also be a sign of an underlying condition.

Importance of Respiration

When you exercise, your lungs perform a very important function. They move air in and out of your body to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. During sustainable exercise, your muscular cells use oxygen to produce energy. A byproduct of energy production is carbon dioxide. Without enough oxygen, your body cannot produce energy. If carbon dioxide accumulates in your bloodstream, it can raise your pH level. Respiration increases with intensity of exercise.

Respiration Mechanics

The muscles intertwined with, and surrounding, your ribs may cause the burning sensation with exercise. During exercise, these muscles are working overtime to move massive amounts of air in and out of your lungs. Inspiration is controlled by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which surround your rib cage. During exercise, the accessory inspiratory muscles assist; these include the sternocleidomastoid, scalene and trapezius. When you exhale, it is a forced action with exercise. Again, the intercostals, those muscles surrounding the rib cage, pull your ribs down and in, and with the help of the abdominals, force air out.

Training Your Muscles

If your respiratory muscles are untrained, they can begin to become fatigued with exercise. This can limit the amount you are breathing and, thus, limit activity. Training your respiratory muscles can reduce the burning sensation with exercise. To train your inspiratory muscles, continue exercising aerobically, as this will work those muscles. Another method is to purchase a specialized apparatus that forces you to inhale and exhale against progressive resistance, thus training your lung muscles like you train any other muscle.

Warning Signs

A burning in the rib cage may be a sign of an underlying condition. If your breathing limits your performance and is accompanied by wheezing, chest tightness and coughing, this may be an indication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Instead of pushing yourself to train harder, stop your exercise program and contact your doctor.