T Nation

Injury from Doing Dips

Injuries and Rehab
#1

about a week ago i was doing some weighted dips…(70 lbs + BW 175lbs) which is a weight ive done before. I never do 4 sets but the first 3 felt easy so i did a 4th. At the bottom of the 5th rep i felt a sharp pain in the middle of my chest near my sternum and im pretty sure i heard or felt a slight tearing sound.

anyway for the next 3 days i wasnt able to stand with my chest out or take a deep breath without feeling sharp pain. About 50% of the pain is gone now, but it still does hurt to take a deep breath or if i try to pull my shoulder blades together or twist my upper body.

There is no brusing and no visible change to my chest.

Is it safe to say this was just a small muscle pull?

Also, are there any uper body excersises i can still do while healing or certain excersises i should stay away from?

thank you in advance!

#2

Probably a pull, if there is nothing visible it might not be catastrophic. However, if deep breathing hurts I’d get it looked at. If you are injured forget about upper body exercises rest and recovery should be your only focus

#3

Thanks saps…i did light lower body stuff this week already so i guess ill just rest and do lower body again. I’m seeing my doctor on the 20th so i doubt ill know anything for sure anytime soon

#4

[quote]tigertron wrote:
Thanks saps…i did light lower body stuff this week already so i guess ill just rest and do lower body again. I’m seeing my doctor on the 20th so i doubt ill know anything for sure anytime soon[/quote]

Good man! Doctor will give you more insight into what is wrong (if anything). I would not do anything lower body work that involves putting pressure on your rib cage (backsquats, deadlifts, goodmornings, etc)

Quick question: Does it hurt when you push your sternum?

#5

hey tigertron,

How’d it go down with the doctors? I think I just did the same thing to myself last night, I’m pretty much experiencing all the same things you’ve described here.