Yes, but the muscle spasms may be secondary to a facet lock (the joints between the vertebrae - zygopophyseal, aka facet joints -- they can get stiff and stuck).
It has been my clinical experience that facet locks or strains are the most common cause of pain that is distributed along the rib ... in the absence of trauma to cause fracture of course.
Find a PT who does Maitland or Mulligan work ... try
http://www.ozpt.com and click on "find an OMPT". There should be someone in the Houston area ...