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 disrupt your daily activities. When this condition is linked to cervical spinal stenosis, the discomfort can be even more challenging. 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 get smaller, creating pressure on the nerves that move through the spine. This can relate to symptoms 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 common nerve pathways. When the nerves in the cervical region are compressed, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result. This is supported by researchlike a study by Russo et al., which found a significant association between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) McHenry 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 be beneficial to 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. One such technique is flexion distraction manipulation, which has been shown to effectively decrease foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method assists in decompressing the spinal discs and widen the spaces within the spine, lowering nerve pressure.
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 treatments help restore mobility to the shoulder joint and lower pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in chiropractic care is a thorough assessment to identify the root cause of symptoms. This includes physical tests and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on the diagnosis, a chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan. This plan may involve spinal adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to foster overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments make sure that progress is being made and that any necessary changes 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) emphasized the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting the role of McHenry chiropractic care in managing these interlinked conditions.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois 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 struggling with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, McHenry chiropractic care could be the intervention you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and delivering targeted relief, your McHenry chiropractor may well help you get back mobility and enhance your quality of life. Book a consultation with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic today and start your journey to pain relief!
