3. Blunt Trauma
A tear in the pectoralis muscle can also cause a person to experience chest pain. Most often, a tear in this muscle is caused by a direct blow to the chest area. It may also be caused by an indirect trauma to the chest. Rib fractures and rib displacement can also be a result of blunt force trauma to the chest. There are several symptoms a person may experience after being hit directly or indirectly in the chest.
Some symptoms may include pain that worsens with sneezing, coughing, or laughing, bruising, swelling, and tenderness. All of these symptoms are a sign that there is something wrong. You may have just bruised the muscles or you may have torn the pectoralis muscle or damaged a rib. If you have received a blow to the chest and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.