Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is widespread
and troubling for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, reduced
quality of life, and altered posture often attend spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Amelia Chiropractic Clinic, Fernandina Beach spinal stenosis sufferers
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 lower quality of life. A recent
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 had dementia as
opposed to only 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were described as modifying
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
standing and walking. They deduced
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more related to spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is related to, reduced walking ability isn’t beneficial. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the part stenosis plays
in relationship to slowed walking, but for now,
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic will keep encouraging 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 reports are published
and with good reason. Reduced ability to walk
and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues remain the main
gauges for back surgery in older sufferers.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
state difficulty with walking post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a more recent guideline for handling lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
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 reports regarding
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased walking found
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was an effective treatment approach.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Fernandina Beach spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic.
CONTACT Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
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 Fernandina Beach chiropractic
appointment now for improved walking and decreased
back pain due to Fernandina Beach lumbar spinal stenosis!