Frozen shoulder, medically known
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described
as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair
your activities of daily living. When this condition is related
to cervical spinal stenosis, the discomfort can be even more demanding.
Luckily, chiropractic care offers a viable solution
to manage and ease these symptoms.
Understanding the Connection: Cervical Spine & Shoulder
What is Cervical Spinal Stenosis? Cervical spinal stenosis
is an issue in which the spaces within the spine get smaller,
creating pressure on the nerves that move
through the spine. This can relate 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 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 research, including a study
by Russo et al., which found a significant association
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Plainville
chiropractic care offers itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating
musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those concerning
the spine. Here is how it can benefit
patients with frozen shoulder related to cervical spinal
stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief - Chiropractors utilize
a variety of techniques to ease the symptoms of
cervical spinal stenosis. Flexion distraction spinal manipulation aka Cox
Technic has
been shown to effectively decrease foraminal stenosis and
radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress
the spinal discs and widen the spaces within the spine, lessening
pressure on the nerves.
Cervical Spine Disc Herniation Foraminal Narrowing and Frozen
Shoulder Pain Relief - Chiropractic adjustments can also directly help
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 restore mobility to the
shoulder joint and reduce pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in Plainville chiropractic care is an
in-depth 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 foster
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, 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) discussed
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further supporting
the role of Plainville chiropractic care in overseeing
these interlinked conditions.
CONTACT Layden 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, Plainville chiropractic care could be the solution
you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and providing
targeted relief, your Plainville chiropractor may well help
you get back mobility and enhance your quality of
life. Set up a consultation with Layden Chiropractic today and begin
your journey to pain relief!