Rib cartilage injuries
We have twelve pairs of ribs that are made of roughly 2/3 bone, 1/3 cartilage, with the cartilage portion sitting at the front and merging together with others. It is this area where players may sustain a “popped rib cartilage”. This is a minor but very painful injury with tenderness over the front lower ribs and pain on breathing over the injured joint. It involves the cartilage joints where the ribs merge to form the lower part of the front of the chest wall.