Williamson 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 attend spinal stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders invite spinal stenosis. At Apple Country Chiropractic, Williamson spinal stenosis patients 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 issues like dementia development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A new 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 improve 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 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 related to, reduced walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the part stenosis plays in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now, Apple Country Chiropractic 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. Reduced ability to walk and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. These two issues persist as the leading gauges for back surgery in older sufferers. Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still state walking issues after surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for managing lumbar spinal stenosis and associated 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 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 an effective treatment approach. Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care of Williamson spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by Apple Country Chiropractic.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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 Williamson chiropractic appointment today for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can get you walking (more) again!
