Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by 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 alleviate 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,
creating pressure on the nerves that move
through the spine. This can lead to indicators 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 shared
nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves
are compressed, it can lead to referred pain and restricted movement in the
shoulder.
This is reinforced by research, including a study
by Russo et al., which reported a significant link
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Groton
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 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. One such technique is flexion distraction manipulation (Cox Technic), which has
been shown to effectively reduce foraminal stenosis and
radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress
the spinal discs and open 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 address
the shoulder. Techniques like the Cox® cervical
flexion-distraction technique have proven effective in managing conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3).
These adjustments help regain mobility to the
shoulder joint and reduce pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in Groton chiropractic care is an
in-depth assessment to identify the root cause of symptoms. This includes
physical examinations and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on
the diagnosis, a chiropractor will create an individualized treatment plan. This plan may include spinal
adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to encourage
overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments confirms
that progress is being made and that any necessary modifications
to the treatment plan are implemented. Further, numerous
studies support the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions
like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby potentially frozen
shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) presented
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting
the role of Groton chiropractic care in managing
these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 are dealing
with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen
shoulder, Groton chiropractic care could be the solution
you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and delivering
targeted relief, your Groton chiropractor can help
you regain mobility and enhance your quality of
life. Book a consultation with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office today and start
your journey to pain relief!