Chest Wall Pain What is it? A type of muscle pain in the chest. Types of Chest Wall Pain: Bruised chest muscles   from excessive coughing, straining or minor injury can cause harmless chest pain. Costochondritis causes pain and tenderness in and around the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). If you have costochondritis, pressing on a few points along the edge of your breastbone often triggers considerable tenderness. If gently touching the area with your fingers causes chest pain, it's unlikely that a serious condition, such as a heart attack, is the cause of your chest pain.