Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Cervical ribs are ribs that grow additionally from the 7th cervical vertebra, congenitally narrowing the space for nerves and blood vessels passing through the thoracic outlet. However, the majority of people with cervical ribs remain asymptomatic throughout their lives, and actual symptoms often appear when weight training causes hypertrophy of the scalene and pectoralis minor muscles, or when repetitive overhead movements are added. In other words, the bone acts as the cause, while the tension and hypertrophy of the soft tissues serve as the trigger. Surgical resection is considered only in specific cases where there is clear evidence of vascular compression. From a Korean medicine perspective, while the innate structure cannot be changed, what causes symptoms is the blockage, congestion, and hardening of the circulation of Qi and blood superimposed upon it. In our bodies, Qi and blood flow from the chest to the inner arm; if hypertrophied muscles constrict this pathway, circulation is blocked, leading to numbness. At Dongjedang, we check the thickness and tension of the scalene and pectoralis minor muscles using ultrasound, then relieve excessive tension with acupuncture. If tissue is attached to the nerve pathway, we meticulously detach it using fine needles, and for signs of inflammation, we apply pharmacopuncture in a stepwise manner. Since individuals with high levels of physical activity tend to accumulate stagnant waste and dead blood, the goal is to create a physical condition that allows for continued exercise without symptoms, even with a structural predisposition, by combining constitution-tailored herbal medicine treatment to flush these out.