Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41657761›Full record

ReviewHand therapy2026

Physical assessment and rehabilitation for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS): A scoping review.

Joel O'Sullivan, Christian Rushton, Marcus Bateman, Caroline Miller, Claire Stapleton, Jonathan Hill

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Hand therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Joel O'SullivanUpper Limb Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist & NIHR DCAF Fellow, School of Allied Health Professions & Pharmacy, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK & University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3438-9822
Christian RushtonSenior MSK Physiotherapist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Marcus BatemanConsultant Upper Limb Physiotherapist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3203-506X
Caroline MillerUpper Limb Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist & NIHR Senior Clinical Research Practitioner- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4866-0847
Claire StapletonSenior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Professions & Pharmacy, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7201-7552
Jonathan HillProfessor of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, Staffordhsire, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6246-1409

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (NTOS) is a complex condition that can be encountered in musculoskeletal and hand therapy services. Rehabilitation is recognised as the primary treatment for NTOS however, detail on rehabilitation components are poorly described. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the physical assessment and rehabilitation components alongside clinical reasoning strategies that may aid therapists in the conservative management of adults with NTOS. Methods: Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane) were searched, utilising the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used to organise data regarding rehabilitation interventions for NTOS. Results: Twenty-Nine out of 1381 studies identified, met the eligibility criteria. NTOS Provocation tests (16/18 89%) were the most frequently described assessment components, followed by palpation of pertinent structures (11/18 61%) and assessment of posture (10/18 56%). 'Decompressing the thoracic outlet' was the main aim encountered for rehabilitation programmes. Exercise (17/19 90%) was the most frequent rehabilitation intervention identified, with stretching ( Discussion: The reporting of rehabilitation techniques for NTOS is generally poor, particularly regarding treatment intensity. There is an essential need for a standardised and reproducible rehabilitation intervention for NTOS to be developed.

Indexed as

AssessmentNTOSRehabilitationThoracic Outlet SyndromeTreatment

Identifiers

PMID41657761
PMCPMC12875897

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.