Georgetown Walking and Non-Drug Therapy for Back Pain and Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common and distressing for many. Dementia, neurogenic claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, decreased quality of life, and altered posture often accompany spinal stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders invite spinal stenosis. At Dr. Butwell, Georgetown spinal stenosis sufferers who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone to help.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research continues to present 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 acquiring dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the lumbar spinal stenosis patients had dementia compared to just 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 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 while walking and standing. They deduced 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 beneficial. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the part stenosis plays in relationship to decreased walking, but for now, Dr. Butwell 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, many guidelines and reports are published and with good reason. Decreased ability to walk and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. These two issues persist as the main 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 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 regarding the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic claudication that decreased the ability to walk revealed that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance together was a beneficial treatment method. Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care of Georgetown spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by Dr. Butwell.
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
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 Georgetown chiropractic appointment now for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can get you walking (more) again!
