Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and troubling for many. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, decreased
quality of life, and altered posture often attend spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders
invite spinal stenosis. At Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, Toronto spinal stenosis sufferers
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone to
help.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research continues to present lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to conditions like dementia
development, walking capacity, and lower quality of life. A recent
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 had 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 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 during
walking and standing. They concluded
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more associated
with spine loading which rose 7%. (2) Whatever
it is related to, reduced walking ability is
not beneficial. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to decreased walking, but for now,
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre will keep encouraging 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, multiple guidelines and reports are published
and with good reason. Reduced ability to walk
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These two issues remain the leading
factors for back surgery in older sufferers.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
report walking issues post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a more recent guideline for the
management of lumbar spinal stenosis and related
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 reduced walking revealed
that manual therapy and exercise to increase walking distance
together was a beneficial treatment approach.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Toronto spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates 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 Toronto chiropractic
appointment today for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can
get you walking (more) again!