Can you have chest tightness due to muscle strain?

Oblique strain: Typically the obliques muscles help open and close the check cavity. They are thin and can be strained by overuse and result in stiffness or tightness in the rib areas, the other option is pectoralis strain at the sternal borders which can pull across the breast area. But we cannot assume that heart and lungs are not involved without evaluating them as well.

Yes: However, you want to make sure this is not a more serious problem with your heart or lungs.