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What Causes Tightness Around The Abdomen And Chest During Physical Activity?
Question: I'm a75 year old competitive weightlifter (I know rare) getting ready for a competition and was doing heavy clean and jerks followed by XXXXXXX squats. The technique is to take a deep breath into your stomach not chest to support your torso. I don't use a belt when doing a c&j but I do use a belt when doing heavy squats. The belt is very tight and when doing a squat you take a deep breath into your stomach and hold it until you are almost completely upright. Tonight, the area around my stomach and chest is tight and uncomfortable. No indigestion or heartburn but very uncomfortable. Hiatle hernia perhaps?
Brief Answer:
Please give detailed information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Male/75 - competitive weightlifter - getting ready for competition - c&j followed by XXXXXXX squats - deep breath into stomach to support torso - no belt doing c&j but use doing heavy squats - deep breath into stomach and hold until completely upright - area around stomach and chest is tight tonight - and uncomfortable - no indigestion or heartburn - thinking of hiatal hernia...
As per the history you have provided, this may be due to muscle sprain as the muscles of upper abdomen originate into lower chest and while doing weightlifting particularly c&j and squats this are gets strain and sprains and hence inflamed to give discomfort - hiatal hernia would have given heartburn and internal pain, deep within, enhanced by food.
The discomfort due to muscles would be bit superficial and can have better feeling or tenderness on deep palpation over the affected area.
Please give details about the discomfort:
Whether superficial or deep?
Does it increase on taking deep breath or any activity that increase strain on abdomio-thoracic area?
Effect on deep palpation.
Effect of anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen if it suits you.
Whatever the cause, first and foremost is to take the rest at the moment as workup on ailing parts can enhance the problem too much.
Awaiting for your feedback.
With Regards.
Please give detailed information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Male/75 - competitive weightlifter - getting ready for competition - c&j followed by XXXXXXX squats - deep breath into stomach to support torso - no belt doing c&j but use doing heavy squats - deep breath into stomach and hold until completely upright - area around stomach and chest is tight tonight - and uncomfortable - no indigestion or heartburn - thinking of hiatal hernia...
As per the history you have provided, this may be due to muscle sprain as the muscles of upper abdomen originate into lower chest and while doing weightlifting particularly c&j and squats this are gets strain and sprains and hence inflamed to give discomfort - hiatal hernia would have given heartburn and internal pain, deep within, enhanced by food.
The discomfort due to muscles would be bit superficial and can have better feeling or tenderness on deep palpation over the affected area.
Please give details about the discomfort:
Whether superficial or deep?
Does it increase on taking deep breath or any activity that increase strain on abdomio-thoracic area?
Effect on deep palpation.
Effect of anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen if it suits you.
Whatever the cause, first and foremost is to take the rest at the moment as workup on ailing parts can enhance the problem too much.
Awaiting for your feedback.
With Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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