Physical Therapy for Lumbar Stenosis

Physical therapy is often prescribed for those suffering from Lumbar Stenosis. Its aim is to strengthen and improve tissue, muscle and joint strength to reduce pain and manage the condition. Patients who use physical therapy both with and without surgery often show significant improvement, thus making it worthwhile to discuss physical therapy options with your doctor.

What is Lumbar Stenosis?

• Spinal Stenosis occurs when the spinal canal running down your spine has been narrowed, putting pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. Lumbar Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal cord in the lumbar, or lower back, region. It's generally a very painful condition, characterized by pain, numbness, cramps and weakness in your legs. It may hurt more to stand or walk for a long period of time. Sometimes, however, Spinal Stenosis shows no symptoms and goes unnoticed.

  The condition occurs more commonly in people over 50 years of age. Occasionally it may develop in a younger person, but this person is generally born with a narrowed spinal canal.

  The narrowing of the spinal canal is generally the result of a gradually degenerating spine. As the bones weaken, the intervertebral discs also lose their fluid, and begin to press into the canal from all of the weight placed on them by the rest of the body. Joints and ligaments will also enlarge to make up for this weakened state, which adds additional pressure onto the spinal canal. These structural changes often cause quite a bit of pain in this region.

  Sound a lot like arthritis? Lumbar Stenosis often stems from arthritis, which in turn may result from a number of different conditions. The cause of spinal stenosis in most individuals is often quite complex.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

• Most of time, Lumbar Stenosis is treatable without surgery, and surgery is often recommended only for patients who don't appear to be responding to physical therapy. Even then, physical therapy can be pursued after surgery, usually with beneficial results. Your doctor will likely prescribe a certain type of exercise depending on your particular case. In general, however, the purpose of physical therapy is to do three things: loosen and relax tissues to reduce pressure on the spine, aid in flexibility and increase the strength of the back or abdomen. These three ways will reduce symptoms and help make the condition more bearable until it is corrected.

  Physical therapy may take many forms. It may be walking, stretching and flexion exercises. It may also be massages to reduce the stress of the muscles and surrounding tissue. Cardiovascular exercises are also very useful as they will build endurance as well as improve general blood circulation, which may help inflammation at the vertebral column.

  Sometimes, physical therapists may recommend certain medical equipment to help you perform certain exercises. You may wear a back brace or corset during exercise to help provide support. This often occurs if the stomach muscles are weak. Your therapist will be able to recommend and guide the use of any equipment necessary.

  The length that physical therapy lasts is entirely dependent on your case. Some patients may receive it for as little as four to six weeks, while others may undergo therapy for months.