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 connected altered walking patterns! Our La Grande chiropractic patients experiencing spinal stenosis often comment that they walk differently. That makes sense! Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC can help alleviate La Grande 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 have lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more affected. In a study of such patients who were heading for 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 exhibited improvement in locomotion. (1) Yet surgery doesn’t necessarily improve gait for all spinal stenosis patients. Researchers evaluated the sagittal vertical axis using a gait motion analysis with lumbar spinal stenosis patients before and after they underwent decompression surgery to see 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 change in sagittal vertical axis, but there was significant change 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 important. (3) This is good!
SPINAL STENOSIS AND POSTURE
It’s also beneficial to understand that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are linked to their symptoms. A new study delved into the matter of how dynamic alignment of the spine and pelvic might be connected to lumbar spinal function in the daily life of LSS sufferers and discovered that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a greater pelvic tilt angle, or less spinal flexion during gait resulted in reduced daily-life lumbar function. (4) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC aims to improve the quality of life for our La Grande spinal stenosis patients and appreciates studies that divulge what works. A future study’s goal is to form a set of data that can help define and/or alter patient treatment plans, indications for surgery, and practices for post-surgery rehab for lumbar spinal stenosis patients who choose to have surgery. These patients come with a unique set of issues regarding 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To ensure as good an outcome as possible, technology may come to the rescue. With lumbar spinal stenosis come gait abnormalities like decreased gait speed and unevenness 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 identify 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows them well! Find out during your exam!
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helps ease spinal stenosis and improve balance.
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic appointment today to visit us especially if you find your gait being “off” and/or have back pain. Spinal stenosis may be the offender, and Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows how to deal with it!
