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Intercostal retractions occur when the muscles between the ribs pull inward. The movement is most often a sign that the person has a breathing problem. Intercostal retractions are a medical emergency.
Without this action, the rib cage would distort, and the action of the diaphragm would be less mechanically efficient, thus wasting energy. Intercostal muscle contraction also brings about stiffening of the rib cage during lifting, pushing, and pulling movements, which makes the intercostal muscles an important contributor to these movements.