Understanding the Roo’s Test The Roo’s Test, also called the Elevated Arm Stress Test, is a simple movement where you lift your arms and open and close your hands. Many people use it as a quick screen for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). The goal is to see how fast blood moves into your hands. If […]
(With 30 bolded keywords, 1–2 sentence paragraphs, educational tone, citations, trademarks included, and real references.) In my clinical experience, many people are surprised to learn how often financial systems shape the diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Patients tend to assume that every diagnosis is based purely on anatomy or testing. Yet real-world practice shows that […]
In my clinical experience, one of the most overlooked yet essential concepts for understanding chronic neck pain and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is the righting reflex. This powerful neurological mechanism is responsible for keeping the head perpendicular to gravity so the eyes remain level with the horizon. When individuals unknowingly trigger this reflex repeatedly, the resulting […]
In my clinical experience, some of the most emotional and eye-opening cases come from individuals who have undergone procedures that never addressed the true source of their symptoms. This particular story highlights how missed thoracic outlet choke points can lead to years of unnecessary suffering. It begins with a mother watching her teenage son, Brady, […]
In my clinical experience, one of the most common patterns that mimics Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is chronic tension in the pectoralis minor muscle. Many individuals are told they need a pectoralis minor resection, yet the underlying problem may be a pattern of muscle guarding rather than a structural disorder. Understanding how guarding develops and how […]
In my clinical experience, patterns of upper extremity strain often become more noticeable as daily device use increases. Many individuals spend long hours on computers, tablets, and smartphones, and these habits can load the neck, shoulder, and arm in ways that may contribute to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Simple actions repeated thousands of times each day […]
Many individuals experience hand weakness, numbness, or tingling and assume these symptoms must be related to conditions like diabetic neuropathy. In my clinical experience, however, certain patterns of discomfort can resemble this condition even when the source comes from mechanical compression around the thoracic outlet. This article explores a case-style example that illustrates how symptoms […]
Many individuals with upper body symptoms want to understand why their discomfort seems to appear suddenly or escalate without warning. In my clinical experience, one of the most misunderstood patterns involves venous compression that resembles Paget-Schroetter Syndrome. This condition develops when the space under the collarbone becomes narrowed and the vein is compressed. The result […]
Many individuals want to understand why their symptoms feel complicated, widespread, or difficult to explain. In my clinical experience, one of the most important but overlooked contributors to upper body symptoms is the subclavius muscle. This article explores how this small but powerful structure can mimic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and create patterns that confuse both […]
