- Reference Number: HEY1013/2025
- Departments: Emergency Department
- Last Updated: 30 November 2025
Introduction
This advice sheet has been produced to give you information about soft tissue, chest injuries and rib fractures. It is not meant to replace discussion between you and the healthcare professional looking after you. If after reading it you require further explanation, please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.
Soft Tissue Injury / Rib Fractures
You have been assessed by a practitioner as having a chest injury. Most injuries are identified as soft tissue injuries to the chest area. This includes chest wall bruising and muscular sprains. However, there may be uncomplicated rib fractures present.
The practitioner caring for you will have examined you and determined if you require an X-ray. The X-ray will be undertaken to rule out any damage to the lungs or pleural cavity (not to diagnose rib fractures).
The results of any examinations will be discussed with you prior to being discharged from hospital by the team caring for you.
Symptoms you may have
Chest injuries are often painful, particularly when you breathe in. Pain can usually be managed with regular paracetamol, and if appropriate, anti-inflammatories.
Pain often feels worse 2 to 3 days following the injury but may last up to 6 weeks. Pain may not be present at rest but may be triggered by moving, coughing, sneezing, or deep breathing. If you need to cough or sneeze, hold and support the area which is painful. Hugging a pillow or rolled towel may help with this. There is no need to strap the chest as it is important to encourage deep breathing.
Bruising may or may not be present and can take between 2 to 4 weeks to heal.
Caring for your Chest / Rib Injuries
Chest infections are one of the most common complications following a chest injury. This is due to pain from your chest injury limiting your ability to take deep breaths, cough, or move around as normal.
Deep breathing exercises are extremely important for the prevention of chest infections and should be carried out at least every hour whilst you are awake. Taking 5 to 10 slow deep breaths (as deeply as you can) every hour will reduce the chances of you developing a chest infection.
Keep mobile, as this will help you deep breathe and clear any sputum. Avoid lying down or staying still for a long time.
You should avoid heavy lifting and pulling for 4 to 6 weeks. Avoid contact sports or any exercise that makes the pain worse for 4 weeks.
People who smoke have a higher risk of developing complications after chest wall injuries, such as chest infections. For advice on how to stop smoking, please ask a member of staff or contact:
When to seek medical advice
If you develop a temperature, a cough with discoloured phlegm, feel generally unwell, you must see your GP, attend a Minor Injury Unit or Walk-In Centre as soon as you can. If your pain is not managed with the painkillers you are taking, please contact your GP, Walk-In centre, or call 111.
If your breathing becomes more difficult or you develop increased shortness of breath, or if you get new chest pain, chest tightness, or begin to cough up blood, you should return to the Emergency Department.
Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Emergency Department.
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
