Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and troubling for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, decreased
quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders
invite spinal stenosis. At Spine & Sports Rehab Center, Baton Rouge spinal stenosis patients
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have a partner by their side.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research continues to present lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to conditions like dementia
development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A new
study stated that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for acquiring 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 portrayed as altering
their posture with a forward bend to improve their ability and
tolerance for walking. Researchers who looked into 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 good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the part stenosis plays
in relationship to slowed walking, but for now,
Spine & Sports Rehab Center will continue to encourage walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance furthered
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 published
and with good reason. Reduced walking ability
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 newer guideline for the
management of lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
neurogenic claudication suggested 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 studies on
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that reduced the ability to walk found
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 Baton Rouge spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by
Spine & Sports Rehab Center.
CONTACT Spine & Sports Rehab Center
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.
Schedule your Baton Rouge chiropractic
appointment soon for improved walking and decreased
back pain due to Baton Rouge lumbar spinal stenosis!