The oblique muscles are often thought of as the waist muscles. They contribute to pain on your side in the rib cage and waist area, lower abdomen, groin, and pelvis. They can also contribute to heartburn, indigestion, bladder pain and incontinence, and testicle pain.
The latissimus dorsi is a large flat muscle that covers the mid to lower back. It can contribute to pain in the shoulder, upper back, and arm going down into the hand. The muscle can also cause pain in the side of the ribcage and lower abdomen. The lats can also affect breathing.
The pectoralis minor muscle contributes to pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers. Chest pain can be tenderness or sharp, burning stabbing pain. The pec minor can also contribute to pain in the upper back between the shoulder blades.
The pectoralis major contributes to pain in the chest, shoulder, breast and upper back. Pain can also travel down the inner arm, elbow and extend to the hand and last two fingers.
The serratus anterior muscle can contribute to pain down the side of the ribs, around the shoulder blade, and may chest, arm, hand and fingers. It also contributes to pain in the back around the shoulder blade and down the side of the ribs.
The intercostal muscles are found between the ribs. The muscles can contribute to pain in and around the rib cage. They are also a major contributor to pain in the sides and in between the ribs known as a side stitch.
The rectus abdominis can contribute to pain in the area around the sternum, across the upper back, across the buttocks, the lower abdomen, the pelvis. and testicles. It can also contribute to heartburn, indigestion, feeling bloated as well as mimicking urinary tract infection pain.
The diaphragm is a muscle found under the lower ribs. It can contribute to breathing problems, pain in the chest and ribs and can cause the sharp pain in the side known as side stitches.
The quadratus lumborum muscle is located in the low back. It can contribute to pain in the lower back, hips buttocks, back of the thigh as well as the top of the front of the hip and thigh. The pain in the lower back can be stabbing and debilitating.
