Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and troubling for many. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, lessened
quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders
invite spinal stenosis. At Back And Neck Care Center, Severna Park spinal stenosis sufferers
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have a partner by their side.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research keeps presenting lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to conditions like dementia
development, walking capacity, and lower quality of life. A new
study reported 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 as
opposed to just 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were described as modifying
their posture with a forward bend to enhance 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 related to spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is linked to, decreased walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to more fully
understand the part stenosis plays
in relationship to decreased walking, but for now,
Back And Neck Care Center will continue to encourage walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance increased
as tolerated.
THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: Walk
Since spinal stenosis is so common a condition in older
folks, many guidelines and articles are issued
and with good reason. Reduced walking ability
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues remain the leading
factors for back surgery in older patients.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
report difficulty with walking after
surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for handling lumbar spinal stenosis and related
neurogenic claudication suggested non-surgical multimodal care
to include 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 studies regarding
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that reduced the ability to walk revealed
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was an effective treatment approach.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Severna Park spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Back And Neck Care Center.
CONTACT Back And Neck Care Center
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.
Make your Severna Park chiropractic
appointment today for improved walking and decreased
back pain due to Severna Park lumbar spinal stenosis!