Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is widespread
and troubling for many. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, lessened
quality of life, and altered posture often attend spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Cross Chiropractic Center, Sandy Springs spinal stenosis patients
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 reduced 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 only 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 looked into this
phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis during
walking and standing. They deduced
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 beneficial. Someday it will be nice to more fully
understand the part stenosis plays
in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now,
Cross Chiropractic Center 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, many 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 2 issues persist as the main
gauges for back surgery in older patients.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
state walking issues after
surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a more recent guideline for the
management of 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 on
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased walking found
that manual therapy and exercise to increase walking distance
together was an effective treatment method.
Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Sandy Springs spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Cross Chiropractic Center.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic 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.
Make your Sandy Springs chiropractic
appointment soon for increased walking and decreased
back pain due to Sandy Springs lumbar spinal stenosis!