Three ways a physical therapist can help when your first rib is out of place

Functional Capacity Evaluation Process, SSOR Physical Therapist conducting FCE, Patient undergoing Functional Capacity Evaluation at SSOR

It’s likely that one of the few rib injuries that you’ve heard of is a broken rib. However, there are plenty of other rib-related issues that can negatively affect your body and daily life. 

One excellent example of such an issue is when your first rib is out of place. When this happens, it’s known as first rib subluxation. First rib subluxation can lead to a problem called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). This condition occurs when the space between your clavicle and your first rib narrows. It can lead to pinching of veins, arteries or nerves that run through the thoracic outlet, which can trigger symptoms like neck, shoulder or hand pain. Numbness and tingling in the neck, shoulder and hand are also common TOS symptoms. 

A physical therapist can help you determine if your symptoms are being caused by your first rib being out of place. In addition, they can help you find effective treatment for your condition. 

Here are three techniques physical therapists may use if your first rib is out of place: 

  1. Manual therapy — Your physical therapist may choose to bring their hands to bear on your displaced first rib. This typically means they’ll work on mobilizing your shoulder and neck soft tissue using a category of therapy methods called manual therapy. Some manual therapy techniques your physical therapist may use to help you include: 
  1. Dry needling — Physical therapists can also use monofilament needles to reduce tension and pain in neck and shoulder muscles. Doing so is called dry needling. Typically, this technique causes minimal discomfort in patients it’s performed on. 
  1. Therapeutic exercises — A physical therapy plan may also include therapeutic exercises. One reason for this is such exercises can help stretch tight neck muscles. Others can be used to improve the strength of your neck and shoulder muscles and improve posture. The result? Your physical therapist can help you increase the space in your thoracic outlet, which decreases the likelihood of TOS. 

SSOR offers effective physical therapy for people whose first rib is out of place

Are you experiencing the TOS symptoms that come from having a first rib that is out of place? Our physical therapy team at Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation is ready and willing to help you address this problem. We can confirm first rib subluxation and TOS during one of our free screenings. Next, our clinicians can develop a unique physical therapy program for you that’s designed to: 

  • Reduce pain. 
  • Improve neck and shoulder flexibility, strength and posture. 
  • Increase your ability to do normal daily activities. 
  • Decrease your chances of developing TOS in the future. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can address first rib subluxation and TOS or to schedule an initial PT appointment.