Spinal Stenosis Affects Gait and Causes Back Pain
Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart shoes” to measure gait abnormalities and associated altered walking patterns! Our West Des Moines chiropractic patients dealing with spinal stenosis often comment that they walk differently. That makes sense! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa can help relieve West Des Moines back pain and the related effects of spinal stenosis.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS
Older folks are affected to a greater extent by frailty and locomotive syndrome, and those who also experience lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more bothered by it. In a study of such patients who were going to undergo surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, all but 1 of the 234 patients were documented to have locomotive syndrome while 24.8% had frailty. Post-surgically, those with frailty displayed improvement in locomotion. (1) Yet surgery doesn’t necessarily improve gait for all spinal stenosis patients. Researchers measured the sagittal vertical axis using a gait motion analysis with lumbar spinal stenosis patients before and after they had decompression surgery to determine if there was any improvement in spatiotemporal – how and how quickly a person moves in terms of stride, pace, width of step, etc. - gait parameters. There wasn’t a variation in sagittal vertical axis, but there was significant difference in spatiotemporal parameters. (2) Cox® flexion distraction treatment delivered significant improvement to lumbar spinal stenosis patients in terms of improved function, symptomatology, and performance-based mobility. Further all of their subjective improvement outcomes were statistically and clinically meaningful. (3) This is beneficial!
SPINAL STENOSIS AND POSTURE
It’s also beneficial to know that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are related to their symptoms. A new study delved into the subject of how dynamic alignment of the spine and pelvic might be linked to lumbar spinal function in the daily life of LSS sufferers and discovered that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic tilt angle, or smaller spinal flexion during gait gave rise to decreased daily-life lumbar function. (4) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa seeks to improve the quality of life for our West Des Moines spinal stenosis patients and appreciates studies that divulge what works. A future study’s goal is to ascertain a set of data that can assist in defining and/or altering patient treatment plans, indications for surgery, and routines for post-surgery rehab for lumbar spinal stenosis patients who choose to have surgery. These patients come with a unique set of issues concerning posture, balance, ambulation biomechanics, paraspinal muscle quality and fatigue rates, as well as symptoms. (5) All of these play a role in a lumbar spinal stenosis patient’s care at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To make sure that the clinical outcome is as good an outcome as viable, new tech may be of help. With lumbar spinal stenosis come gait abnormalities like reduced gait velocity and asymmetry due to muscle weakness and pain in the lower extremities. Have no fear! “Smart shoes” to the rescue! Smart shoes are wearable sensors that can sense gait variations quicker, easier, and cheaper. (6) In the meantime while their accuracy and cost-effectiveness are analyzed - since smart shoes may not be for everyone - the old fashioned in-clinic tests remain effective, and Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows them well! Find out during your exam!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helps ease spinal stenosis and increase balance.
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today to see us especially if you find your gait being “off” and/or have back pain. Spinal stenosis may be the culprit, and Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows how to deal with it!
