|
Home |
Search | Site
Map |
TOS (Thoracic
Outlet Syndrome)
Treatments - Part II
Read my disclaimer and terms of use.
|
Related Sections in this series: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome |
TOS Treatments That Helped Me - Part II
-
I found trigger point therapy effective for all sort of musculoskeletal conditions including TOS. I had lots of trigger points on the outsides of both shoulders, and massaging them several times a day seemed to help me gain much more movement in my neck and shoulders.
The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies
-
I used a tennis ball to massage the trigger points on my back and around my shoulders. I would either lay on the ball or put the ball in a sock and hang it behind my back. Then I'd stand next to a wall and press my back into the tennis ball to massage trigger points in hard to reach places. One of my physical therapists called it the "ball on the wall" massage therapy.
-
I bought a massage tool called a theracane. This was recommended in the Trigger Point Therapy book. I found it worked pretty good to massage my trigger points. I also used the curved part of the cane to press down and massage the elevated knot in my shoulder on my TOS side.
-
I tried to stay off the computer as much as possible when I was actively having TOS pain problems. At other times I would work on the computer for normal times, but I would try to stop and take frequent stretch breaks.
-
I improved my posture quite a bit, especially while at the computer. I used to sit slanted to one side with my knotted shoulder higher. This made my lower shoulder slumped even more and caused the muscles on the lower shoulder side to shorten even more than they were. So then when I'd sit up, they shortened and contracted muscles from my lower shoulder side pulled on my TOS shoulder causing more and more pain.
I have a lot of old medical text books, written before drugs and surgery became such standard practice in U.S. medicine, and it's amazing how much emphasis is placed on proper posture. I think posture training is a lost art. You can read more about posture training at sites on the Alexander Technique.
-
Physical therapy helped my TOS, but only with a knowledgeable physical therapist. The first two or three therapists I tried actually made my TOS worse by having me work with elastic bands and do a lot of muscle building exercises. These types of exercises just made my muscles tighter and my TOS symptoms worse. In evaluating a therapist, I would recommend avoiding anyone who says to "work through the pain". Pain just means the obvious: You are getting worse, not better. I do think your goal with physical therapy should be to get out of pain, not increase it.
The PT that ended up helping me focused a lot on stretching exercises, proper posture, setting up my PC work station correctly, loosening up the know in my shoulder and improving my overall body alignment. Many of the problems I had such as kyphosis, scoliosis, TOS, knee problems and more were all interrelated, and when my body was in better alignment they all cleared up in unison.
Related Pages:
Popping Jaws, Knees and Other Joints - my shoulder on the TOS side frequently pops out of place from muscular tension.
Disclaimer: Statements and information regarding any products mentioned within this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Any information on this site should be considered as general information only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition.
See your health care provider for a diagnosis and treatment of any medical concerns you may have, and before implementing any diet, supplement, exercise or other lifestyle changes. This site may contain errors. Use it at your own risk. Read the rest of our disclaimer and terms of use.
|
Home |
Search | Site
Map |
Copyright 2002 -
2009 Pine Canyon Media, LLC.
All rights reserved.