Hi everyone
I haven’t been making any posts as I have been really busy. I now have a full-time job and I am doing a course at night school as well.
My theory as to why computers are linked to TOS, it is for the same reason that people who have jobs that require working overhead or working with arms out the front of your body or musicians, etc. They all require sustaining postures involving muscles connecting the scapula to the thoracic spine for long (abnormal) periods of time.
I believe that any thoracic spine injury (particularly one involving a rib) will not resolve as it should if one is on a computer for hour after hour or is involved in a pastime or occupation where continuous scapular stabilisation is required. This unresolved thoracic spine injury will cause irritation around the thoracic spine (like costochondritis but not at the sternum), the scapular stabilising muscles which attach to the spine will react (appearing to be weaker), changing the shoulder girdle posture and leading to pec minor or hyper-abduction syndrome.
The resultant symptoms are pain in upper back, poor posture, heavy arm, neurological symptoms in arm etc.
Historically, the treatments have been to try and strengthen the apparently weak scapular stabilisers, however this has only worsened the thoracic spine problem.
Surgery to “open” the thoracic outlet has largely been ineffective as it does not address the root cause.
Strategies that might help lessen the irritation at the rib /spine “joint”
Taping the shoulder back
Shoulder brace
Not using the affected arm (sling)
Anti inflammatory drugs
Not chest breathing (try not to sit, this causes pressure on the diaphragm)
Do not rest on the rib cage ( impossible I know but the worse we get the more we do it)
Avoid putting on weight (this places more pressure on the diaphragm)
Heat packs on the affected thoracic spine
Hope this might help someone
towelhorse