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Vancouver Walking and Non-Drug Therapy for Back Pain and Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common and distressing for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, reduced quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders invite spinal stenosis. At Vancouver Disc Centers, Vancouver spinal stenosis patients who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone to help.

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 recent 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 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 during 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 linked to, decreased walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now, Vancouver Disc Centers 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 issued and with good reason. Decreased walking ability and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. These two issues remain the main 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 related 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 regarding the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic claudication that decreased the ability to walk found that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance together was a beneficial treatment method. Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care of Vancouver spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by Vancouver Disc Centers.

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

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.

Schedule your Vancouver chiropractic appointment soon for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can get you walking (more) again!

 
Vancouver Disc Centers encourages walking and guideline-recommended non-drug therapy for spinal stenosis, decrease of its pain, and improvement in walking. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."