Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is widespread
and distressing for many. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, reduced
quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Manahawkin Chiropractic Center, Manahawkin spinal stenosis patients
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone 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 lower quality of life. A new
study reported 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 compared to only 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were portrayed as changing
their posture with a forward bend to improve 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 deduced
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more related to spine loading which rose 7%. (2) Whatever
it is linked to, decreased walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to more fully
understand the part stenosis plays
in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now,
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center will continue to encourage walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance increased
as able.
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. Decreased walking ability
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues persist as 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 handling lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
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 studies on
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that reduced the ability to walk revealed
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was an effective treatment approach.
Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Manahawkin spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes 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 Manahawkin chiropractic
appointment soon for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can
get you walking (more) again!