May 2024 Healthy News from Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Exercise and Relieving Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
OUR ‘THING’ – Relieving Care for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Back Pain
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a degenerative spinal condition affecting 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 deteriorate over time. Standing and walking may worsen 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 being questioned. (2) Non-medical suggestions are reported as effective, particularly a mixed approach of manual therapy and exercise for older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and associated neurogenic claudication that was pronounced as effective while epidural steroids weren’t. (3) A new study emphasized the desire of chiropractors to work in partnership with healthcare professionals to improve integrated, coordinated patient centered healthcare for older adults, the number of whom is increasing quickly. (4) We chiropractors offer multiple non-drug, non-surgical methods via personalized treatment plans – spinal manipulation and mobilization (with Cox® Technic), nutrition, exercise, bracing, etc. - to alleviate spine-related pain like back pain due to LSS. Relieving spine pain 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 provided greater short-term symptom and physical function improvement as well as improved walking capacity. (5) That is 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 revealed that most exercise recommendations included 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 approaches. (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 Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is privileged to be your Sitka chiropractor and values your sharing your chiropractic experience with family and friends, particularly those who have lumbar spinal stenosis! See you soon!