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, reduced walking distance, poor balance, decreased quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders invite spinal stenosis. At Vancouver Disc Centers, Vancouver spinal stenosis sufferers 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 reduced quality of life. A recent study stated 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 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 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 concluded that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more related to spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever it is linked 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, Vancouver Disc Centers will continue to encourage 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, multiple guidelines and articles are issued and with good reason. Decreased ability to walk and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. These two issues remain the leading factors for back surgery in older sufferers. Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still report difficulty with walking after surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for the management of lumbar spinal stenosis and related neurogenic claudication suggested 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 reports 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 increase walking distance together was a beneficial treatment method. Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care of Vancouver spinal stenosis is endorsed 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 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 Vancouver chiropractic appointment today for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can get you walking (more) again!
