The bottom two ribs can protrude too far out in humans. People with protruding bones may be very bothered by the shape of these bones. In some cases the chest is also not properly formed. The chest may be sunken. A sunken chest is referred to as pectus excavatum. You can make protruding lower ribs disappear visually through exercises. You can read which exercises these are here.
My bottom two ribs stick out: is that normal?
With a normally formed rib system, the bones at the bottom do not protrude. Many people who do have protruding bones notice this automatically. You see around you how other people are shaped and compare their build with your own. You see a difference and notice that your own bones are positioned a little differently. Many people don’t like how the bones stick out. In some cases, people may even experience protruding bones.
My sternum has collapsed
If your sternum has also collapsed, it can be referred to as pectus excavatum . It is slightly more common in boys than in girls and the extent to which it occurs varies greatly. Some people don’t even realize they have a sunken sternum. For example, if you have a lot of muscle mass, it is much less noticeable than in people with very little muscle mass and a low fat percentage.
Psychological problems due to protruding bones
It sounds a bit strange, but this is a serious problem: psychological problems due to protruding bones. When people are dissatisfied with their body, self-confidence problems can arise. People with pectus excavatum or people with a mild form of deformed bone growth and bone position can create a negative self-image . The swimming pool is preferred to be avoided and people are ashamed of its appearance.
Floating bones or flared ribs
The floating bones (the lower ribs) are also called flared ribs. In many people these bones can protrude. If you are skinny or have a low fat percentage, these lower ribs are more noticeable. Because there is little fat over the ribs, the contours of the ribs become clearly visible. People with a higher fat percentage also have less problems with protruding ribs.
I’m skinny and my bones stick out
If you are thin, your bones are more noticeable. If you have excellent ribs, they will stand out even more if you have a lower fat percentage. If you want the bones to be less noticeable, you can eat more so that your fat percentage increases. You can also train more so that you develop more muscle instead of fat. It is best to eat more and exercise at the same time. Once you have developed muscle, you can lose a little weight so that your fat percentage becomes lower again and your muscle mass remains at the same level. Your bones are less noticeable and your fat percentage remains low.
Training your abdominal muscles
If you train your abdominal muscles, your ribs will also be less noticeable. In this case, it is mainly about training your oblique abdominal muscles. The training also strengthens the muscles under and near your ribs, making them stronger and making your ribs less noticeable/protruding.
Removing the floating ribs
In some cases, you can also opt for a surgical procedure. The lower ribs have no function. You can have these ribs surgically removed . Once they are removed you will no longer have protruding bones. This procedure only helps against floating ribs and therefore not for people with a sunken sternum. People with pectus excavatum can also be helped surgically.
Suffering from shortness of breath due to floating ribs and sunken sternum
If your bones are not formed completely correctly or are not positioned correctly, you can also develop physical ailments. A common problem is shortness of breath. Because your ribs are not positioned properly, they press against the lungs. The heart is also often pushed away a bit. The heart is often pushed to the left. The lungs can sometimes not be fully utilized if your rib cage is incorrectly positioned. Exercise often causes accelerated fatigue and shortness of breath.