Pain in the arms? Look to your neck

PDF | Print | E-mail

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 13:25

User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

Pain in the arms

by Dr Grant Harper

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or TOS is the compression of the big nerve trunk and blood vessels in the neck by muscles around the first rib and collarbone. Many moons ago I remember one of our current top surfski paddlers suffering from this syndrome.

Enlarged muscles in his neck from his swimming and waterpolo days necessitated some of his first rib being surgically removed. This sounds drastic, but the problem was solved!

TOS results in a posture-related aching in the arm, and a variety of sensation changes: pins and needles, parasthesia, numbness and vascular compromise resulting in cold hands and colour changes in the fingers.

The most common cause of sport-related TOS is hyperextension (excessive backward movement) of the neck for prolonged periods such as when surfing and cycling, as well as traumatic hyperextension injuries to the neck.