Frozen shoulder, medically known
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition categorized as 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.
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 in the shoulders
and arms.
How Does It Cause Frozen Shoulder? The connection between
cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder stems from the shared
nerve pathways. When the nerves in the cervical region
are compressed, it can lead to referred pain and restricted movement in the
shoulder.
This is reinforced by researchlike a study
by Russo et al., which found a significant link
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Minster
chiropractic care presents itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating
musculoskeletal disorders, especially those that involve
the spine. Here is 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 relieve the symptoms of
cervical spinal stenosis. One such technique is flexion distraction manipulation (Cox Technic), which 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
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 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 Minster chiropractic care is an extensive assessment to understand 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 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 modifications
to the treatment plan are employed. Further, many
studies support the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions
like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby potentially frozen
shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) highlighted
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting
the role of Minster chiropractic care in managing
these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you’re struggling
with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen
shoulder, Minster chiropractic care could be the solution
you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and delivering
targeted relief, your Minster chiropractor may well help
you get back mobility and improve your quality of
life. Book a consultation with Minster Chiropractic Center today and begin
your journey to pain relief!