Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart
shoes” to measure gait abnormalities and connected
altered walking patterns! Our Manahawkin chiropractic
patients dealing with spinal stenosis often comment
that they walk differently. That makes sense! Manahawkin Chiropractic Center can help relieve
Manahawkin back pain and the related effects of spinal stenosis.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS
Older folks are affected to a greater extent by frailty and locomotive syndrome, and those
who also experience lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more
bothered by it. In a study of such patients who were heading
for surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, all but 1 of the 234
patients were documented to have locomotive syndrome while 24.8% were
documented to be frail. Post-surgically,
those with frailty showed improvement in locomotion.
(1) Yet surgery does not necessarily enhance gait
for all spinal stenosis patients. Researchers measured the
sagittal vertical axis using a gait motion analysis with lumbar spinal stenosis
patients before and after they underwent decompression surgery to see
if there was any improvement in spatiotemporal – how and how quickly a person walks
in terms of stride, pace, width of step, etc. - gait parameters. There wasn’t a variation in sagittal vertical axis, but there
was significant difference in spatiotemporal parameters. (2) Cox®
flexion distraction treatment delivered significant improvement to
lumbar spinal stenosis patients in terms of
improved function, symptomatology, and performance-based
mobility. Further all of their subjective improvement outcomes were
statistically and clinically meaningful. (3) This is good!
SPINAL STENOSIS AND POSTURE
It’s also beneficial to know
that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are
linked to their symptoms. A new study delved
into the matter of how dynamic alignment
of the spine and pelvic might be connected to lumbar spinal
function in the everyday life of LSS sufferers and found
that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic
tilt angle, or less spinal flexion during gait resulted
in decreased daily-life lumbar function. (4) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
seeks to enhance the quality of life for our Manahawkin
spinal stenosis patients and values studies that divulge
what works. A future study’s goal is to establish
a set of data that can help define and/or
alter patient treatment plans, indications for surgery, and practices
for post-surgery rehab for lumbar spinal stenosis patients who choose
to have surgery. These patients come with a unique set of
issues concerning posture, balance, ambulation biomechanics,
paraspinal muscle quality and fatigue rates, as well as symptoms. (5) All of
these have a role in a lumbar spinal stenosis
patient’s care at Manahawkin Chiropractic Center and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To ensure as
good an outcome as possible, new tech may come
to the rescue. With lumbar spinal stenosis come gait
abnormalities like reduced gait speed and unevenness due to muscle weakness and pain in the lower extremities. Have no fear! “Smart shoes” to
the rescue! Smart shoes are wearable sensors that can sense
gait changes quicker, easier, and cheaper. (6) In the meantime while their accuracy and cost-effectiveness are analyzed - since
smart shoes may not be for everyone - the old fashioned in-clinic
tests still work, and Manahawkin Chiropractic Center knows them well!
Find out during your examination!
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management helps ease spinal stenosis and improve
balance.
Make your Manahawkin chiropractic
appointment now to see us especially if you find
your gait being “off” and/or have back pain. Spinal stenosis
may be the offender, and Manahawkin Chiropractic Center knows how to deal with it!