New Research from Apple Country Chiropractic: Exercise Helps Spinal Stenosis Patients, Regardless of Severity
If your imaging shows spinal stenosis or a disc protrusion, feeling cautious about exercise is completely understandable — what if the wrong movement makes things worse? Two new research papers published in this year offer genuine peace of mind, and they're worth bringing up with your chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic as you work toward feeling better.
A "SEVERE" SCAN DOESN'T MEAN EXERCISE WON'T HELP
Published in Physical Therapy, a large retrospective study of 1,806 patients with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis tracked outcomes from an exercise-based rehabilitation program, and the findings challenge a common assumption. (1) Investigators reported that participants improved significantly in pain levels, functional disability, strength, and medication use — and there was no meaningful difference in how well participants responded to exercise based on how severe their stenosis looked on imaging, with over 11% of participants able to discontinue narcotic pain medication entirely. In other words: a severe-looking scan doesn't mean exercise is off the table.
DISC PROTRUSION PATIENTS SEE REAL GAINS FROM STABILIZATION EXERCISE
A randomized clinical trial published in Health Science Reports followed 60 patients with a unilateral lumbar disc protrusion for eight weeks, comparing standard physiotherapy on its own to routine physiotherapy combined with supervised stabilization training targeting the deep stabilizing muscles of the trunk. Both groups improved in pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion, but the stabilization group improved significantly more — and ultrasound imaging showed stronger engagement of the deep abdominal muscles and multifidus that help keep the low back supported. Just as reassuring: across the eight-week trial of supervised exercise, nobody in the study experienced a decline in symptoms or a exercise-related injury, only some mild, short-lived muscle soreness early on. (2)
LET’S TALK AT YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the correct exercise plan is shaped by your particular imaging, symptoms, and goals — so before beginning or adjusting any exercise program, talk with your chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic in Williamson, who can help you approach relief with confidence rather than fear.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the benefit of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
