Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief
Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair your activities of daily living. When this condition is related to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more demanding. Fortunately, chiropractic care offers a viable solution to manage and alleviate these symptoms.
Understanding the Connection: Cervical Spine & Shoulder
What is Cervical Spinal Stenosis? Cervical spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces within the spine narrow, creating pressure on the nerves that move through the spine. This can lead to indicators such as neck pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the shoulders and arms.
How Does It Cause Frozen Shoulder? The connection between cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder lies in the shared nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves are compressed, it can lead to referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder. This is supported by research, including a study by Russo et al., which found a significant association between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) St Peters chiropractic care offers itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, especially those that involve the spine. Here’s how it can benefit patients with frozen shoulder related to cervical spinal stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to relieve the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis. Flexion distraction spinal manipulation aka Cox Technic has been shown to effectively reduce foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress the spinal discs and widen the spaces within the spine, alleviating pressure on the nerves.
Cervical Spine Disc Herniation Foraminal Narrowing and Frozen Shoulder Pain Relief Chiropractic adjustments can also directly help the shoulder. Techniques such as the Cox® cervical flexion-distraction technique have proven effective in managing conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3) These adjustments help regain mobility to the shoulder joint and lower pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in chiropractic care is an extensive examination to identify the root cause of symptoms. This includes physical examinations and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on the diagnosis, a chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan. This plan may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to encourage overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments ensure that progress is being made and that any necessary modifications to the treatment plan are implemented. Further, numerous studies support the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby possibly frozen shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) presented the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further supporting the role of St Peters chiropractic care in managing these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Sarah Murrow on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes a case of neck and shoulder pain relieved and managed via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you’re dealing with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, St Peters chiropractic care could be the answer you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and delivering targeted relief, your St Peters chiropractor can help you get back mobility and enhance your quality of life. Set up a consultation with Old Mill Chiropractic today and start your journey to pain relief!
