Sjana Elise reveals how she sub-dislocates ribs and needed help on the beach

An Australian yoga teacher known for posting incredible travel and exercise-related content on her Instagram has explained how her ribs often ‘slip’ out of place, leaving her in excruciating pain.

Sjana Elise Earp, who has 1.4million subscribers on the sharing platform, posted a video on Thursday showing how she does a very common yoga pose on the beach to stretch her obliques and spine.

But instead of drawing attention to how good it felt, which she would normally do, the Queensland-based teacher said she is struggling with a condition known as rib subluxation.

It’s a quasi dislocation of the region that can be caused by anything which stretches the rib or puts pressure on the sternum. 

‘I have an issue with my ribs… they have a mind of their own and sometimes like to sub-dislocate,’ she wrote.

‘When they do, it’s the most excruciatingly painful experience and I’m literally brought to the earth unable to move or even breathe properly (as the rib sits on my lungs). 

It’s a quasi dislocation of the region that can be caused by anything which stretches the rib or puts pressure on the sternum

‘It happened moments after this video a few days ago, and I was able to make it onto my back and then had to lay there completely still for three hours (I got really bad sunburn and heat stroke) and thankfully my neighbours could eventually come help me.’

Sjana explained that it used to happen to her once or twice a year but is now almost once a month – and takes a fortnight to recover from.  

‘This time however it hasn’t popped itself back in, even after going to the chiropractor,’ she said.

‘Does this happen to anyone else? And if so, what do you do to pop it back in?

Sjana explained that it used to happen to her once or twice a year but is now almost once a month – and takes a fortnight to recover from

‘Usually the only thing that helps is laying on these little yoga balls I have. And they helped so much this time, but didn’t pop it back in.’

Seeking answers, Sjana’s followers were only too keen to help out the yogi.

‘I have had it happen skateboarding before. I’ve never had a go to easy fix but I did find laying on an inversion table eased the discomfort and eventually it would pop back in out of the blue,’ one man responded.

‘The muscles around your ribs there (serratus posterior, latissimus, and abdominals) need a good massage! That’s probably why the balls feel so good! Find a neuromuscular therapist. They can help work the tissue and stretch or strengthen the proper muscles to help recover and prevent future subluxations,’ one woman added.

Unfortunately there is no simple cure to the rare phenomenon and Sjana’s primary treatment, according to Heathline, would be to rest, ice it and avoid strenuous activity.