Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief
Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair your daily activities. When this condition is linked to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more demanding. Fortunately, chiropractic care has a viable solution to manage and ease 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, putting pressure on the nerves that move through the spine. This can lead to indicators 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 stems from the common nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves are compressed, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result. 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) Elgin chiropractic care offers itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, especially those involving the spine. Here’s how it can be beneficial to patients with frozen shoulder associated with cervical spinal stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to relieve the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis. One such technique is flexion distraction manipulation, which has been shown to effectively lower foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress the spinal discs and widen the spaces within the spine, alleviating nerve pressure.
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 to be efficacious in dealing with 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 in-depth assessment to understand the root cause of symptoms. This consists of physical tests 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 foster overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments confirms that progress is being made and that any necessary changes to the treatment plan are applied. Further, many studies back 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 Elgin chiropractic care in managing these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Connected 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 via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you are dealing with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, Elgin chiropractic care could be the solution you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and delivering targeted relief, your Elgin chiropractor can help you regain mobility and enhance your quality of life. Book a consultation with Connected Chiropractic today and begin your journey to pain relief!
