May 2024 Healthy News from Executive Chiropractic of Iowa Exercise and Relieving Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
OUR ‘THING’ – Relieving Care for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Back Pain
A degenerative spinal condition, lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) concerning many older adults. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a big problem for a lot of people – 103 million worldwide – and 11% of older US adults which increases with age. (1) LSS waxes and wanes and may get worse over time. Standing and walking may aggravate it while sitting and bending forward usually improve it. (3) Typical medical suggestions are to adapt activity, analgesia, physical therapy, and even epidural steroid injections whose long-term benefits are questionable. (2) Non-medical recommendations are reported as effective, particularly a diverse approach of manual therapy and exercise for older patients experiencing lumbar spinal stenosis and related neurogenic claudication that was described as effective while epidural steroids weren’t. (3) A recent report emphasized the desire of chiropractors to work together with healthcare professionals to enhance integrated, coordinated patient centered healthcare for older adults, the number of whom is growing rapidly. (4) We chiropractors offer multiple non-drug, non-surgical approaches via individualized treatment plans – spinal manipulation and mobilization (with Cox® Technic), nutrition, exercise, bracing, etc. - to ease spine-related pain like back pain due to LSS. Spine pain relief is our ‘thing’!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the use of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management treatment protocols to successfully manage lumbar spinal stenosis.
TIP OF THE MONTH: Do Your ‘Thing’: Exercise for LSS
Of three non-surgical interventions for lumbar spinal stenosis – medical care, group exercise, and manual therapy/individualized exercise – manual therapy/individualized exercise produced greater short-term symptom and physical function improvement as well as better walking capacity. (5) That’s our approach! We use the gentle Cox® Technic manual therapy with exercise. A recent review of exercise for lumbar spinal stenosis and related neurogenic claudication found that most exercise recommendations featured supervised, lumbar flexion, and aerobic fitness exercises (like cycling in a flexed posture) while stretches, strengthening exercises, and psychologically informed means were part of the most effective treatment plans. (6) If lumbar spinal stenosis is your ‘thing,’ exercise will most likely be your ‘thing,’ too! We determine together which ones are best for you.
Thank you for being part of our chiropractic healthcare family.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is privileged to be your West Des Moines chiropractor and is grateful for your sharing your chiropractic experience with family and friends, particularly those who have lumbar spinal stenosis! See you soon!