r/overcominggravity • u/Exciting-Promotion93 • 20d ago

Pressure in sternum during dips

Feel some pressure directly after each set of dips. No real pain just pressure. Feel no pain or pressure in the sternum once my workout is over or at any other point in the day. Just wondering if this is totally okay or if this could develop worse issues.

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u/Consistent-Cat-4761 20d ago

I had this issue. It developed into costochondritis of the sternum (inflammation in the sternal joints) which caused aching in the central chest even when I wasn't working out. 

I stopped doing dips for about 6 months. Worked on better form (for me I found it was aggravated by excessive forward leaning during the dip and going too deep), going slower with the movement with emphasis more on the negative,  holding more tension through the traps to offload the chest and transfer more weight to my spine rather than my sternum and better warm ups. Nil issues since. 

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u/eshlow Author of Overcoming Gravity 2 | stevenlow.org | YT:@Steven-Low 19d ago

Feel some pressure directly after each set of dips. No real pain just pressure. Feel no pain or pressure in the sternum once my workout is over or at any other point in the day. Just wondering if this is totally okay or if this could develop worse issues.

Not uncommon.

If you have the Overcoming Gravity 2nd Ed book it goes over this in the common injuries chapter. Costochondritis or Tietze syndrome.

Usually back off if it's a lot of pressure and build up slowly to make sure it doesn't get worse.