Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief

October 01, 2024

Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition categorized as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair your daily activities. When this condition is related to cervical spinal stenosis, the discomfort can be even more demanding. Luckily, 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 travel through the spine. This can relate to symptoms 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 joint nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves are compressed, it can lead to referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder. This is supported by researchlike a study by Russo et al., which reported a significant association between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Groton chiropractic care presents itself for relief!

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those concerning the spine. Here’s how it can benefit patients with frozen shoulder related to cervical spinal stenosis:

Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors utilize various techniques to ease the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis. Flexion distraction spinal manipulation aka Cox Technic has been shown to effectively lower foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress the spinal discs and open the spaces within the spine, lowering 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 managing 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 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 an individualized treatment plan. This plan may involve spinal adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to encourage overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments ensure that progress is being made and that any necessary changes to the treatment plan are employed. Further, many 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 Groton chiropractic care in managing these interlinked 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 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 dual 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 providing targeted relief, your Groton chiropractor can help you regain mobility and enhance your quality of life. Set up a consultation with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office today and begin your journey to pain relief!

Groton chiropractic care relief for frozen shoulder