The Middle of My Chest Hurts When I Do Push-Ups or Lift Weights

When it comes to exercise, there's more than a little truth to the old adage "no pain, no gain." But there's a difference between pain or soreness that's a sign that you're building muscle and pain that results from injury, inflammation, or muscle strain.

The middle of the chest has got a lot of muscles, including the pectoral muscles, the intercostal muscles that run in between the ribs, and several abdominal muscles that attach near the rib cage. So overusing or otherwise injuring any of them could cause pain in the center of the chest.

A look at some of the underlying reasons for middle chest pain after push-ups may help you decide how to proceed.

Costal cartilage runs from the breastbone, or sternum, outward, and an inflammation of these structures can cause pain with push-ups. The hurt is usually felt toward the front of the upper chest, and you may feel it more acutely with deep breathing or direct pressure to the joints such as that experienced during push-ups or weight lifting.

Costochondritis tends to occur more in younger people and is most likely to affect the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs. It usually runs its own course, but the first order of business is to back off from doing exercises that stress that area for a while. Ice and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories may also help.

The lining of the esophagus isn't equipped to handle stomach acid, and over time the tissue can become damaged and extremely irritated — enough to cause some pretty severe chest pain right in the area of your sternum.

When you exercise, gravity can assist those gastric juices in traveling into your esophagus, triggering pain. If it's GERD, you'll most likely feel a burning sensation along with the chest pain.

GERD is treated with acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors. They're available both by prescription and over the counter under names like lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

It’s best to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment options if you think you might have GERD.

It could also be a sign that you have acute indigestion. No joke — even doctors have a hard time telling without running tests.

Anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of a heart attack should call 911 to summon emergency medical help.

• If you experience chest pain during exercises like push-ups or weight lifting, it could be due to musculoskeletal issues like muscle strain or costochondritis, both of which may benefit from rest and anti-inflammatories.
• Persistent or recurring chest pain could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); consulting a doctor about treatment options can help manage symptoms.
• Severe chest pain, particularly if associated with pressure, pain radiating to the arms or jaw, or difficulty breathing, could indicate heart-related issues and necessitates immediate medical evaluation.