Fort Wayne Walking and Non-Drug Therapy for Back Pain and Stenosis

August 17, 2022

Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common and troubling for many. Dementia, neurogenic claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, reduced quality of life, and altered posture often accompany spinal stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders invite spinal stenosis. At Aaron Chiropractic Clinic, Fort Wayne spinal stenosis sufferers who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have a partner 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 described as modifying their posture with a forward bend to enhance their ability and tolerance for walking. Researchers who studied this phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis while standing and walking. They deduced that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more associated with spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever it is related to, reduced walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to more fully understand the part stenosis plays in relationship to decreased walking, but for now, Aaron Chiropractic Clinic will keep encouraging walking for spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance furthered 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 issued 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 leading gauges for back surgery in older sufferers. Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still report difficulty with walking post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for the management of lumbar spinal stenosis and associated 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 regarding the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic claudication that reduced the ability to walk found that manual therapy and exercise to increase walking distance together was an effective treatment method. Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care of Fort Wayne spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by Aaron Chiropractic Clinic.

CONTACT Aaron Chiropractic Clinic

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 Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment today for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can get you walking (more) again!

Aaron Chiropractic Clinic encourages walking and guideline-recommended non-drug therapy for spinal stenosis, reduction of its pain, and improvement in walking.