Current Clinical Concepts: Rehabilitation of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) involves an inconsistent set of symptoms that provides a challenge for medical providers to treat. Three categories of TOS are neurogenic, arterial, and venous. A combination of symptoms can occur and are most seen in overhead athletes. Symptoms may include pain, numbness, of an athlete to perform at their prior level of sport is impacted. Due to the variance in presentation and poor objective testing, there is not a well-defined examination process. It is suggested to perform an individualized assessment for each athlete. An athlete's medical team must communicate effectively as numerous specialists are usually involved to create a comprehensive treatment plan. Rehabilitation has been identified as a vital component in the recovery process. As an athletic trainer it is imperative to identify TOS and coordinate with the athlete's care team.