Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and distressing for many. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, lessened
quality of life, and altered posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Chiropractic Solutions, San Jose spinal stenosis patients
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone by their side.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research keeps presenting lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to issues like dementia
development, walking capacity, and lower quality of life. A recent
study stated that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for developing dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the
lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced dementia compared to just 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were described as altering
their posture with a forward bend to improve their ability and
tolerance for walking. Researchers who studied this
phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis while
walking and standing. They concluded
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more associated
with spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is related to, reduced walking ability isn’t beneficial. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now,
Chiropractic Solutions will continue to encourage walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance increased
as able.
THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: Walk
Since spinal stenosis is so common a condition in older
folks, multiple guidelines and articles are published
and with good reason. Reduced ability to walk
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues remain the main
indicators for back surgery in older patients.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
report difficulty with walking post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for dealing with lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
neurogenic claudication encouraged non-surgical multimodal care
to consist of non-drug therapy with education, advice, lifestyle
changes, home exercise, manual therapy, acupuncture (trial), rehab, and therapy.
(4) An update to the 2013 Cochrane review of research reports regarding
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased walking found
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was a beneficial treatment approach.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of San Jose spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Chiropractic Solutions.
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management for a patient with lumbar spinal stenosis and balance issues. Relief with Cox® Technic is described.
Schedule your San Jose chiropractic
appointment today for increased walking and decreased
back pain due to San Jose lumbar spinal stenosis!