Healthy News January 2023

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is reportedly one of the most common spinal conditions in the US, affecting more than 500 million people over the age of 62. (1) As researchers grapple with a more systematic approach to managing patient care for lumbar spinal stenosis patients, your Toronto chiropractor provides gentle, safe, pain easing treatment. The latest effort at a system emphasized that each LSS patient is unique in his/her presentation which restrains any algorithm to be “soft guidance” as to its treatment plan based initially on the LSS patient's pain relief with spinal flexion. (2) Since spinal stenosis is characteristically a systemic issue, meaning if you have spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine, you likely have it in other spinal areas like the cervical as well, you do not want to overlook it. Further, lumbar spinal stenosis isn’t a condition that appears and disappears forever. Its pain can be managed, but its status as a condition remains one that researchers classify as “chronic,” meaning it lasts beyond 90 days. Be hopeful! Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre is experienced in ways to help with lumbar spinal stenosis relief. One study reported that flexion distraction significantly reduced pain and disability for lumbar spinal stenosis patients. (3) Another study reported that chronic back pain sufferers with moderate to severe symptoms got better the most with the chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Decompression (CTFDD), compared with physical therapy. (4) Those same patients experienced significantly lower pain scores over the following 12 months than did patients who underwent physical therapy. (5) LSS patients also experience altered gait and balance concerns. (1,6) CTFDD helps these issues, too! A study regarding the influence of spinal manipulation on balance issues in LSS patients documented that flexion distraction spinal manipulation enhanced function, symptoms, and performance-based mobility in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (6) We also look forward to the outcomes of a prospective data collection study in its second year of follow-up with patients who underwent CTFDD for relief of their LSS-related back pain. Data collection will be completed in late 2023 with findings being published in the years to come. Toronto lumbar spinal stenosis is everywhere, and its relieving partner is your Toronto chiropractor here at Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dean Greenwood on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains his relieving treatment of a spinal stenosis patient with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

As a set of researchers starts a new study to analyze if a 6-week education and exercise program will improve the walking capacity of lumbar spinal stenosis patients who also have neurogenic claudication (7), we} suggest walking and exercising now! Lots of research shows that lumbar spinal stenosis responds to exercise. A study showed that individualized exercise (stretches and strengthening) mixed with manual therapy (like out CTFDD spinal manipulation mobilization!) outperformed medical care and group exercise with greater symptom and function improvement as well as walking capacity at 2 months of care. (8) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre has just the program of stretching, strengthening, and manipulation for you! We will set it up together!

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We are grateful for all of our patients here at Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre and look forward to a healthy 2023! Set your next Toronto chiropractic visit with Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre now to maximize your spine’s health. See you then!