I see Matt Harvey is diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). I had a case of TOS (also called brachial neuritis) that led to arm paralysis in a mountain climber. Fortunately, I successfully treated him non-surgically and he went on to a full recovery and is mountain climbing again. This case was published in a Medical Journal. http://www.journalchiromed.com/article/S1556-3707(11)00156-8/abstract I believe Mr Harvey has a similar condition to this patient with the full right arm paralysis who went on to a full recovery without surgery. (Actually he had nerve entrapment surgery before coming to our office and the patient said it worsened the condition)
Likewise, I feel Mr. Harvey does not need surgery! He does not need the rib REMOVED… he simply needs it MOVED! From what I have read in the news, it looks to me that the rib has become misaligned and it just needs to have its position adjusted slightly…not ripped out. To reiterate, common sense dictates that if the rib needed to be removed it would have ALWAYS been a problem!
In all likelihood, without examining him, this probably occurred this year because of Mr. Harvey's emotional stress from last year which physiologically caused his pectoralis minor muscle to become hypertonic as a defense mechanism (fight or flight response). This, in conjunction with the fact that he is such an emotionally charged individual to start with, is what I believe predisposed this condition to happen now. In other words...he is physiologically tightening up his chest, ribs, and shoulders. (This is why he complained to his agent, Mr. Scott Boras that he felt like he had a "dead arm" earlier in the season)
The rib in question cannot in and of itself BE the problem otherwise it would have ALWAYS bothered him. Therefore, logic dictates the rib itself is not the problem…the rib’s newly developed lack of proper movement is the problem; and this is due to a physiological and biomechanical problem with the ribcage, not an anatomical problem. I.e. he was not born with an overgrown rib.
Last year, Harvard had its 4th International Fascial Symposium to "To advance our understanding of structure and function, educate scientists and clinical professionals" about the importance of fascia. http://www.fasciacongress.org/2015/
In my practice I focus on Maximizing Human Performance and I guarantee that if I am right, a simple realignment of the rib(s) and a releasing of the tight fascia around the pectoralis minor muscle would have Mr. Harvey as good, if not better than ever, in 10 days!
You cannot put a rib back once you take it out! I have been doing this for 30 years and I don’t flippantly make guarantees; however, I mean what I said above with all my heart.
I pray the surgery is a success and I wish Matt Harvey all the luck in the world. Sincerely,
Dr. Eugene Charles The Applied Kinesiology Center of New York 36 East 36th Street New York, NY 10016 www.appliedkinesiologycenterofnewyork.com (212) 683 -9328