How can I tell if my chest pain is due to muscle strain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Chest pain that worsens when you move, breathe deeply, or press on the area—especially after heavy exercise or an injury—is often caused by a muscle strain. This type of pain is typically localized, reproducible with touch, and tends to improve with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers.

However, chest pain has many possible causes, and some require urgent attention. Even when symptoms seem clearly musculoskeletal, it's important to rule out more serious conditions. Taking a free, instant, online symptom check can help you better understand what may be causing your pain and guide you toward the most appropriate next steps—whether that's home care, a doctor's visit, or emergency evaluation.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover if chest pain is just muscle strain Learn likely causes of your chest pain See if your chest pain needs care Find OTC relief for chest muscle pain Understand which doctor treats chest wall pain Find medically valid home remedies for muscle strain Find out what causes chest pain faster

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Explanation

Muscle strain in the chest often shows up as pain in a specific spot. One way to tell if the pain is due to muscle strain is to see if you can make the pain worse by moving your upper body, stretching, or pressing on the area where you feel discomfort.

For example, if the pain started after you lifted something heavy, did a lot of exercise, or had a minor injury, and you feel more pain when you take a deep breath or when someone presses on the sore spot, it is likely to be from the muscles or the chest wall rather than the heart.

Chest pain from a muscle strain tends to be localized and sharp or sore but not heavy or crushing. In contrast, chest pain from heart problems does not usually change with movement or pressing. Still, if you are not sure about the cause of your chest pain, you can use a free symptom checker to help identify possible causes and determine whether you should seek immediate medical attention.

(References)

Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marek A, Marek S. Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain. _Prim Care_. 2013;40(4):863-887. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007
Flook N, Unge P, Agréus L, Karlson BW, Nilsson S. Approach to managing undiagnosed chest pain: could gastroesophageal reflux disease be the cause? Can Fam Physician. 2007 Feb;53(2):261-6. Erratum in: Can Fam Physician. 2007 Jul;53(7):1148. PMID: 17872643; PMCID: PMC1949125.
Reigle J. Evaluating the patient with chest pain: the value of a comprehensive history. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2005 Jul-Aug;20(4):226-31. doi: 10.1097/00005082-200507000-00005. PMID: 16000907.

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