New Research from Executive Chiropractic of Iowa: Exercise Helps Spinal Stenosis Patients, Regardless of Severity
Hearing a diagnosis of spinal stenosis or a disc protrusion often makes exercise feel intimidating — won't moving the wrong way make things worse? Two studies published in 2026 offer genuine peace of mind, and they're worth bringing up with your doctor of chiropractic at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa as you work toward feeling better.
SEVERE STENOSIS ON YOUR SCAN? EXERCISE STILL WORKS
A sizable retrospective study following 1,806 patients with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis through an exercise-based rehabilitation program was published in Physical Therapy, and its findings push back on a long-held assumption. (1) Investigators reported that study participants improved significantly in pain, function, strength, disability, and medication use — and no meaningful difference emerged in how well participants responded to exercise based on how advanced their stenosis appeared on scans, with more than 1 in 10 participants able to discontinue narcotic pain medication entirely. In other words: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
DISC PROTRUSION: STABILIZATION EXERCISE ADDS MEASURABLE BENEFIT
A randomized clinical trial published in the journal Health Science Reports followed a group of 60 patients with a one-sided lumbar disc protrusion for an eight-week period, comparing routine physiotherapy alone to routine physiotherapy plus supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep trunk muscles. While both groups got better across pain, disability, and range of motion, the stabilization group's improvement was significantly larger — and ultrasound imaging showed stronger activation of the deep abdominal and multifidus muscles that help keep the low back supported. Just as reassuring: across eight weeks of supervised training, not a single participant had a decline in symptoms or a treatment-related injury, only some mild, short-lived muscle soreness early on. (2)
TALK TO US AT YOUR NEXT VISIT
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the right program is tailored to your own imaging, symptoms, and goals — so prior to starting or modifying your exercise routine, talk with your doctor of chiropractic at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa in West Des Moines, who can help you move toward relief with confidence instead of fear.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the advantage of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
