Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized
as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described
as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly disrupt
your daily activities. When this condition is linked
to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more challenging.
Fortunately, chiropractic care has a viable solution
to manage and reduce 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 narrow,
creating pressure on the nerves that move
through the spine. This can lead to indicators 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 lies in the common
nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves
are compressed, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result.
This is supported by research, including a study
by Russo et al., which reported a significant association
between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Ashburn
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 associated with 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 reduce foraminal stenosis and
radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress
the spinal discs and open the spaces within the spine, alleviating
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 to be efficacious in managing 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 Ashburn chiropractic care is an extensive 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 involve 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 changes
to the treatment plan are applied. Further, many
studies back the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions
like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby possibly frozen
shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) discussed
the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting
the role of Ashburn chiropractic care in managing
these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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 via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you’re struggling
with the dual challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen
shoulder, Ashburn chiropractic care could be the intervention
you need. By addressing the root causes of your pain and providing
targeted relief, your Ashburn chiropractor may well help
you regain mobility and improve your quality of
life. Book a consultation with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn today and start
your journey to pain relief!