Thoracic Scar Tissue

Medicine largely overlooks this cause because the pain is felt at the front of the chest while the structural problem originates in the back. If left unstretched, scar tissue progressively tightens and further restricts rib mobility. Accumulated scar tissue from old injuries to the thoracic spine and rear ribs is a major cause of costochondritis. Thoracic scar tissue development is delayed — chest pain at the sternum may not appear until months or years after the original back injury. Unilateral sports such as golf, baseball, and tennis contribute to thoracic scar tissue through repetitive asymmetric rotation of the spine. Sustained, daily, targeted movement that creates mechanical shear forces through scar tissue is the essential therapeutic input.