Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs when nerves and/or blood vessels that serve the arm are compressed in the upper chest before entering the arm. The nervous elements, the brachial plexus, are the more common cause of arm and hand tingling, positionally related weakness, and pain; the vascular elements are subclavian and axillary. Usually the symptoms occur in certain positions, such as raising the arm overhead or depressing the shoulder. Medical treatment involves botulinum toxin to relax the scalenus muscles. BENEFICIAL POSES: Bharadvajasana II, Parighasana, Vrksasana, Garudasana,. EXPLANATION: The brachial plexus descends from the cervical spine between the scalenus anticus and medius muscles. Bharadvajasana II and Parighasana stretch these muscles, giving the nerves more slack to get out of harm’s way between the clavicle and the coracoid process , two boney elements which they pass under as they enter and exit the thorax. Vriksasana and Garudasana aid in improving humeral control and scapular (shoulder blade) kinetics, both of which help people avoid the nerve compression that causes this syndrome. REFERENCE: Watson LA, Pizzari T, Balster S. Thoracic outlet syndrome part 2: conservative management of thoracic outlet.Man Ther. 2010 Aug;15(4):305-14. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2010.03.002. Epub 2010 Apr 9.