Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described
as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair
your daily activities. When this condition is linked
to cervical spinal stenosis, the discomfort can be even more challenging.
Fortunately, 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 traveling
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 stems from the common
nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves
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 reported a significant link
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Montreal
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 is how it can benefit
patients with frozen shoulder associated with cervical spinal
stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief - Chiropractors utilize
a variety of techniques to relieve 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 assists in decompressing
the spinal discs and open the spaces within the spine, alleviating
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 adjustments help restore mobility to the
shoulder joint and lower pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in Montreal chiropractic care is an extensive assessment to be
aware of 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, 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) highlighted
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting
the role of Montreal chiropractic care in managing
these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 are dealing
with the dual challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen
shoulder, Montreal chiropractic care could be the answer
you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and providing
targeted relief, your Montreal chiropractor may well help
you get back mobility and enhance your quality of
life. Book a consultation with Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic today and start
your journey to pain relief!