There are many reasons for patients to have thoracic rib cartilage pain, for example, due to long-term chronic exertion, strain or trauma to the chest and ribs, resulting in old damage to the intercostal muscles, which produces a local accumulation of lactic acid, which will cause soreness during activities. If a patient develops sternal costochondritis or intercostal neuritis, there will be soreness, and in some cases, tingling, which interferes with activity. This condition can be treated conservatively by, first, instructing the patient to reduce activity or rest in bed. Secondly, hot compresses can be applied to the thoracic rib cartilage area, or acupuncture, moxibustion, acupoints and other physical means of iontophoresis to improve local blood circulation and promote metabolism, which will alleviate the clinical symptoms.