Objective: To describe the chiropractic care of a geriatric patient with complaints of cervicalgia, arm paraesthesia and adhesive capsulitis using Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique (AMCT).
Clinical features: A 67-year-old male presented to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Centre with severe cervicalgia, right arm paraesthesia of two years duration, and adhesive capsulitis of his left shoulder of 20 years duration. His cervicalgia was constant and rated 8/10 at its worst on the Numeric Pain Scale, and his left shoulder abduction was restricted to 90°.
Intervention and outcome: The patient’s vertebral subluxations were addressed using Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique. After 4 visits spread over 4 weeks he regained the full range of motion in his left shoulder and the cervicalgia subsided to 1/10 with no right arm paraesthesia.
Conclusion: The findings of this case suggest that chiropractic care using Activator Methods protocol for reduction of vertebral subluxations had a positive effect on cervicalgia and adhesive capsulitis in an elderly patient with a complex clinical history.
Author keywords: Chiropractic, vertebral subluxation, geriatrics, neck pain, adhesive capsulitis, paraesthesia
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