Injury floating rib?

[misspelledgeoff]

Rip, on the third rep of first squat workset I felt a tearing burn in my left side at the bottom of my rib cage. It happened near the bottom of the squat, right after the bounce when I was driving up. I got the third rep and (for some dumb reason) went for a fourth but had to bail on it because of the pain.

I was not using a weight belt as I don't own a weight belt. Squat set was 300# which was to be my work set, up from 295# which I completed with intestines intact just a few days ago.

While my whole side hurts now, it seems to be more intense around the second floating rib (closest to rib cage). Any sort of strain makes it feel like my guts are about to spew from my side. The affected side is definitely swollen, but no bruising as of yet.

Any ideas what I did to myself?

Also, FWIT I am 39 yo, 5'10" 245# and on your standard novice SS Program since Aug 1 '09.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Seems like there has been a PANDEMIC (new WHO definition) of costal cartilage injuries recently. I doubt that everyone's squat mechanics have changed, but I just seem to be hearing about it a lot. These things heal quickly, 2-3 weeks tops. Get a knee wrap and wrap your chest at the level of the injury to support it so you can sleep and train while it heals. Review carefully what you might have done to cause this.

[misspelledgeoff]

Thanks Rip. Here is a video of the offending squat. The injury happened on rep 3.

Self-analyzing, it looks as if I'm leaning forward too much and that my lower back is not tight like it should be. I've been trying very hard to get the bar as low as possible on my back and to push my knees out on the descent. I'm still missing something, obviously. Any thoughts are appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8AukxO_UQ

[Mark Rippetoe]

Nothing here that would break a costal cartilage. Shove your knees out at the bottom.

[caseyd123]

what geoff is describing is exactly what ive been feeling the past week. i was scared i had herniated something but this has given me some peace of mind. i feel like i have the strength to push through my workouts but it hurts like hell.

a couple things i was thinking about that might have caused it:
-accidental severe lean forward and coming off the heals
-trying to narrow of a grip on squats and felt a pinch in the back area of the rib

[caseyd123]

Geoff I am curious about something to compare our injuries here and see if we can pinpoint better, how does wearing a belt affect the feel of your rib while lifting? I notice a substantial amount of discomfort once the belt is on because its as if the injury is pressing right into the belt during squats. I was able to finish my 280 squats today and then when I got to bench, it was painful to hold my arch but I managed anyways and finished, but it hurt like FUCK trying to get off the bench from my back. A situp would kill me right now. Then when I went to dead, I did all my warmups raw like I usually do and the pain was still there, but did not get in the way of my strength in the lift. When the workset came and I put on my belt I literally could not reach down and grab the bar, I was in too much pain. So I did the set raw and while I scared the shit out of myself doing it, it definitely didn't hurt as bad as when I tried to grab the bar with the belt.

Let me know if this sounds familiar.

CD