Pain/tightness on back of ribcage during left body kick

[San_Jack]

I train muay thai. I am southpaw. When I throw body kicks (roundhouse) with my left leg I feel a pain where there is a red circle in the image. It is not a sharp pain but spread out. It feels like it's near the surface of my skin, like its in the back part of the ribcage. Although it is my dominant leg, I probably practice kicks 60/40 with the right being the 60 since I'm often forced to do drills in orthodox in class because most people are orthodox. No problems on the right side. I noticed that the pain seemed to decrease near the end of each session.

Can anyone give some tips on how to stretch this area? What might be wrong with my technique or what might I adjust in my technique to limit aggravation here? Kicking is literally the only time I feel it, If I kick a heavy bag or person. If i kick a pad or the air and rotate all the way around 180 degrees I don't really feel it. Should I stop training for a while? I'm only training 2X a week right now. I'm 40. I've been training for about 6 months after many years away from the sport.

 

[Buka]

Welcome to Martial Talk, San Jack.

You should consult a professional about that.
Keep us posted, though.

 

[San_Jack]

Welcome to Martial Talk, San Jack.

You should consult a professional about that.
Keep us posted, though.

Thanks, I will if it continues to be an issue. But a medical professional isn't going to know how to fix my kick or if there is a technique issue at play. I'm going to tell my coach next time I go in to train if he sees a technique problem, but he is unlikely to know how any identified technique problem is going to translate to injury of a specific part of the body.

I guess it's rare to find someone with professional expertise in both martial arts and physiology/physical therapy/ or orthopedic medicine all in one. That would be nice.

 

[Buka]

Thanks, I will if it continues to be an issue. But a medical professional isn't going to know how to fix my kick or if there is a technique issue at play. I'm going to tell my coach next time I go in to train if he sees a technique problem, but he is unlikely to know how any identified technique problem is going to translate to injury of a specific part of the body.

I guess it's rare to find someone with professional expertise in both martial arts and physiology/physical therapy/ or orthopedic medicine all in one. That would be nice.

If you can find someone who has a background in Kinesiology you could demonstrate any technique to them (right there in their office, that’s what they do) that causes you pain, show them where the pain is and they would know why. They would address the problem.

We were fortunate to have one less than an hour away. I went every once in a while over the course of twenty years before I moved away.

My students went for another fifteen years before he passed away.

One of my students, a brown belt, went to him when he hurt something. He was so impressed with the experience he ended up quitting the dojo, going away to school to study kinesiology, physical therapy and chiropractic medicine.

He came back for a visit a few years later. He said that Kinesiology was what taught him how to help people, especially athletes and martial artists.

So look around your area. It’s probably a long shot, but you never know.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Besides the obvious - seek medical advice - have your instructor look at your technique. Incorrect technique can cause pain. I had a young man who had hip pain after practicing side kicks. It was poor technique. He wasn't rotating his support leg nearly enough. Correcting his technique stopped the pain.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Thanks, I will if it continues to be an issue. But a medical professional isn't going to know how to fix my kick or if there is a technique issue at play. I'm going to tell my coach next time I go in to train if he sees a technique problem, but he is unlikely to know how any identified technique problem is going to translate to injury of a specific part of the body.

I guess it's rare to find someone with professional expertise in both martial arts and physiology/physical therapy/ or orthopedic medicine all in one. That would be nice.

A PT may actually be able to help. They won't be able to know if theres a technique issue with your kick (probably), but they will be able to do see/feel as you do the kick and if there's anything wrong muscle-wise. The tougher thing will be finding one up for a consultation like that rather than just going in for direct PT.

Outside of having your instructor look at it (which should be step 1), you can also take a video of both sides, and see if there is any difference in the technique on each side yourself. Or post the video here to see if any of us notice an issue.

 

[HighKick]

View attachment 32085 I train muay thai. I am southpaw. When I throw body kicks (roundhouse) with my left leg I feel a pain where there is a red circle in the image. It is not a sharp pain but spread out. It feels like it's near the surface of my skin, like its in the back part of the ribcage. Although it is my dominant leg, I probably practice kicks 60/40 with the right being the 60 since I'm often forced to do drills in orthodox in class because most people are orthodox. No problems on the right side. I noticed that the pain seemed to decrease near the end of each session.

Can anyone give some tips on how to stretch this area? What might be wrong with my technique or what might I adjust in my technique to limit aggravation here? Kicking is literally the only time I feel it, If I kick a heavy bag or person. If i kick a pad or the air and rotate all the way around 180 degrees I don't really feel it. Should I stop training for a while? I'm only training 2X a week right now. I'm 40. I've been training for about 6 months after many years away from the sport.

I am spitballing, but if you are new to training or have been doing something new, I wonder if you simply haven't strained an oblique muscle. Rotational kicks really use the obliques.