[The clinical evaluation of conservative treatment in patients with the thoracic outlet syndrome].

Conservative treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome is frequently recommended but few studies reporting conservative management are present in literature. Thirteen out-patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (4 males, 9 females) were admitted to a conservative treatment (massage and kinesitherapy) involving the cervical spine and shoulder girdle. All the patients were satisfied with the outcome of the treatment. In particular rest symptoms completely disappeared after treatment in all patients. This study confirms the efficacy of physical therapy in the conservative treatment of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. Further studies on long-term outcome are needed.