A 38-years-old female with headaches, right arm and neck pain

【Clinical features】

A 38-years-old female visited us because she had pain and tightness in her neck and right arm. When she was asked about past injuries, she explained how, about 20 years ago, she had a traffic accident and hit on her right shoulder. At first, the pain in her right shoulder was spontaneously improved, but over the years she developed neck and arm pain on the same side. By the time of her first visit,  She had seen several MDs for treatment on her neck and arm in the past, and she was taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by her GP.

【Clinical findings】

・blood pressure, pulse, sensation, reflex and muscle tests. All were normal.

・The range of motion in her neck and right shoulder were restricted.

・Trigger points are found in muscles of scalene and deltoid. 

【Treatment and outcome】

Treatment plan consisted of chiropractic manipulation to her entire spine, trigger point therapy and rehabilitative exercise program. Within 5 visits, she experienced increasing improvement. She had a total of 8 visits(2 months), after which her symptoms were 80% recovered. The patient was advised to have chiropractic care once per 1 month in order to maintain her painless condition.

【ConclusionTreatment and outcome】

This case study suggest that chiropractic and rehabilitative care can relieve neck pain, 

neck/shoulder stiffness and arm pain caused by trigger point. Spinal dysfunction and a weakness of the inner spinal stabilization muscles appeared to be the cause of patient's symptoms and if it becomes chronic, the situation is likely to produce trigger point. Management including , trigger point therapy, core and spinal stabilization exercises, and chiropractic manipulation were effective in this case.