New Research from Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers: Exercise Helps Spinal Stenosis Patients, Regardless of Severity
If you've been told you have spinal stenosis or a disc protrusion, it's natural to feel wary of exercise — what if the wrong movement makes things worse? Two new research papers published in 2026 offer solid, evidence-based reassurance, and they're well worth sharing with your treating chiropractor at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers as you plan your recovery.
YES, YOU CAN EXERCISE WITH SEVERE STENOSIS
A large retrospective study of 1,806 patients published in Physical Therapy looked at people with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis who completed an exercise-based rehabilitation program, and the results push back on a widespread assumption. (1) Investigators reported that study participants improved significantly in pain, disability, strength, medication use, and function — and there was no meaningful difference in how well participants responded to exercise based on how severe the stenosis appeared radiographically, with over 11% of participants able to come off narcotic pain medicine completely. In other words: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
FOR DISC PROTRUSION, TARGETED STABILIZATION WORK PAYS OFF
A randomized controlled trial published in the journal Health Science Reports followed a group of 60 patients with a one-sided lumbar disc protrusion for an eight-week period, comparing routine physiotherapy alone to routine physiotherapy plus supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep stabilizing muscles of the trunk. Pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion improved in both groups, though the stabilization group saw significantly greater gains — and ultrasound scans revealed greater performance in the deep abdominal muscles and multifidus that help stabilize the lower spine. Just as encouraging: across eight weeks of supervised exercise, not a single participant had a symptom flare-up or a injury tied to the program, only mild soreness in the first weeks that resolved on its own. (2)
ASK US ABOUT YOUR EXERCISE PLAN
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the right program is specific to your imaging, your symptoms, and your goals — so before beginning or adjusting any exercise program, talk with your doctor of chiropractic at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers in Baton Rouge, who can help you move confidently, not fearfully, toward relief.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the advantage of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
