An intercostal muscle strain happens when you pull or partially tear the muscles between your ribs. You can do this by lifting, twisting, or being hit in the ribcage — but healing can take a while.

Your intercostal muscles attach to your ribs. When you breathe in air, they normally contract and move your ribs up. At the same time, your diaphragm, which is a thin muscle that separates your chest ...

Respiratory retractions refer to a drawing in of the muscles between the ribs when a person inhales. It indicates that someone is having difficulty getting enough air into their lungs. If respiratory ...

In years past, muscle injuries in the abdominal area were known by names such as ribcage strains, oblique strains, side strains, abdominal strains, or intercostal strains; with so many muscles ...