(Jan – Feb 2013 Vol 47) Chiropractic Cases: The Frozen Shoulder

Dr. William Choi is a local chiropractor who specialises in the Gonstead Method, and he practices at Academy Of Chiropractic Clinic, 30 Merchant Road #02-27, Singapore 058282. Here’s a case from his practice featuring a man he treated for frozen shoulder, using the Gonstead Chiropractic method.

Andy, who is in his late forties, came to our clinic in October 2012 with the inability to raise his shoulder in all directions. For the past year he complained of lower back pain and pain in his neck and shoulder while resting and during activity.

At the Academy of Chiropractic Clinic, we have treated this condition many times and refer to this as the classic “frozen shoulder”, aka “Adhesive Capsulitis”.

DIAGNOSIS

X-rays were taken for further analysis. Using the Gonstead nervoscope, which detects nerve pressure, we were able to locate the problem areas and discovered he had suffered from a slipped disc in his lower lumbar spine, upper thoracic spine and lower cervical spine.

When the disc is bulging puts pressure and cause irritation to neural structures such as the spinal nerve or cord. As this nerve or nerves travel to the muscle of the shoulder and the capsule of the humerus (shoulder bone), discomfort, pain, and limited range of motion will manifest.

TREATMENT RESULTS

Andy’s initial range of motion was observed before the chiropractic correction. After the specific adjustments were completed, post check of the range of motion was observed.

It has been noted that initially his range of motion was approximately 80 degrees in the forward and side direction and he had limited ability to bring his arm behind his back.

After the correction Andy’s range of motion has increased up to 130 degrees and he is slowly finding it easier to bring his arm behind his back.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

During his care the areas of misalignment were corrected and stabilized which allowed us to move to other areas of his spine that required corrective care.

With the Gonstead method, we always meticulously pre-check for correct nerve pressure with the nervoscope.

These inflamed nerves can cause potential health problems. Post checking after every adjustment with the nervoscope is important so as to assure that the inflamed nerve pressure from the disc has been reduced to those affected areas only, and do not require further correction.

From this, we can observe the progress of Andy and all of our other patients. You can follow Andy’s progress and our other chiropractic cases through videos in our website, accsing.com.

AVOID GETIING FROZEN SHOULDER

Some friendly exercise therapies to perform at home and in office are:

• Active Cadman’s and wall-walking exercises
  Cadman exercises are “mild exercises for restoring range of motion and fundion in the arms or shoulders after Injury and immobilization of the limbs.” It is a simple and cost effective way to decrease your pain and restore your shoulder range of motion. 

  Cadman exercises are performed by swinging your freely hanging upper extremity in a pendulous fashion, and are assisted by gravity. Cadman exercises incorporate three distinct movement patterns of your shoulder: circumduction or rotation, forward and backward movement, and side-to-side movement. Wall exercises work your rotator cuff muscles in different directions. Increasing your range of motion.

  Stand facing the wall, placing your hands on the wall at eye level. Walk your fingers up the wall as high as you can without going off at an angle. Feel your shoulder Joint and arm musdes work together.

  Hold your hands at the highest point you can manage and hold for 15 seconds then slide back down to starting position.

• Further stretching with self-mobilization with an emphasis on inferior glide
  This is similar to a Codman’s exercise; however, begin by placing hands on the wall above your head and sliding down.
• Passive stretching
  passive exercise is motion imparted to a part by another person or outside force, or produced by voluntary effort of another segment of the patient’s awn body. This can be done in the doctor’s office.
• “Giant” ball exercise, and wand exercise for later stage of stretching
  The pieces of equipment are great for low impact strength building.
• Sleep on unaffected side with affected side supported by pillow to avoid excessive internal rotation
  Sleeping on the affected side further irritates the already inflamed capsule of the shoulder. As the shoulder weakens it becomes externally weaker when you lie on it and cannot support you, therefore causing more harm.