Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described
as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly disrupt
your activities of daily living. When this condition is linked
to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more demanding.
Luckily, chiropractic care offers a viable solution
to manage and reduce 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 get smaller,
putting pressure on the nerves traveling
through the spine. This can lead to symptoms such
as neck pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness affecting 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, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result.
This is reinforced by researchlike a study
by Russo et al., which reported a significant association
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Millville
chiropractic care presents itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating
musculoskeletal disorders, especially those concerning
the spine. Here’s how it can be beneficial to
patients with frozen shoulder associated with cervical spinal
stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief - Chiropractors utilize
various 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 assists in decompressing
the spinal discs and open 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 address
the shoulder. Techniques like the Cox® cervical
flexion-distraction technique have proven effective in dealing
with conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3).
These treatments help regain mobility to the
shoulder joint and lower pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in Millville chiropractic care is an extensive examination to understand the root cause of symptoms. This consists of
physical examinations and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on
the diagnosis, a chiropractor will develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan may include spinal
adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to foster
overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments ensure
that progress is being made and that any necessary changes
to the treatment plan are implemented. Further, many
studies support the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions
like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby possibly frozen
shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) highlighted
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further supporting
the role of Millville chiropractic care in overseeing
these interlinked conditions.
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Sarah Murrow on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she
illustrates a case of neck and shoulder pain relieved and
managed with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you’re dealing
with the dual challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen
shoulder, Millville chiropractic care could be the answer
you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and delivering
targeted relief, your Millville chiropractor may well help
you get back mobility and improve your quality of
life. Book a consultation with Wilson Family Chiropractic today and start
your journey to pain relief!