May 2024 Healthy News from Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 quite a few people – 103 million worldwide – and 11% of older US adults which increases with age. (1) LSS comes and goes and may get worse over time. Standing and walking may exacerbate it while sitting and bending forward usually make it better. (3) Typical medical recommendations are to modify activity, analgesia, physical therapy, and even epidural steroid injections whose long-term benefits are questionable. (2) Non-medical suggestions are reported as effective, particularly a mixed 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 were not. (3) A recent report highlighted the desire of chiropractors to collaborate with healthcare professionals to improve 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 personalized treatment plans – spinal manipulation and mobilization (with Cox® Technic), nutrition, exercise, bracing, etc. - to relieve 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 positively handle 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 improved walking capacity. (5) That is our approach! We utilize 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 approaches. (6) If lumbar spinal stenosis is your ‘thing,’ exercise will most likely be your ‘thing,’ too! We figure out the best ones for you, together.
Thank you for being part of our chiropractic healthcare family.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is privileged to be your La Grande chiropractor and values your sharing your chiropractic experience with family and friends, especially those who have lumbar spinal stenosis! See you soon!