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Healthy News January 2023

image of Richmond lumbar spinal stenosis  

LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: What do to?

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is seemingly one of the most common spinal conditions in the US, impacting more than 500 million people over the age of 62. (1) As researchers struggle to propose a more systematic approach to dealing with patient care for lumbar spinal stenosis patients, your Richmond chiropractor delivers gentle, safe, relieving treatment. The latest attempt at a system emphasized that each LSS patient presents a bit differently which restrains any algorithm to be “soft guidance” as to its treatment plan based primarily on the LSS patient's pain relief in spinal flexion. (2) Since spinal stenosis is typically a systemic issue, meaning if you have spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine, you likely have it in other spinal areas like the cervical as well, you do not want to overlook it. Further, lumbar spinal stenosis isn’t a condition that appears and disappears forever. Its pain can be managed, but its status as a condition remains one that researchers classify as “chronic,” meaning it lasts beyond 90 days. Have hope! Your chiropractor can help with lumbar spinal stenosis relief. One study documented that flexion distraction significantly decreased pain and disability for lumbar spinal stenosis patients. (3) Another study reported that chronic back pain sufferers with moderate to severe symptoms improved most with the chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Decompression (CTFDD), compared with physical therapy. (4) Those same patients experienced significantly lower pain scores over the following 12 months than did patients who underwent physical therapy. (5) LSS patients also experience altered gait and balance concerns. (1,6) CTFDD helps these issues, too! A study regarding the influence of spinal manipulation on balance issues in LSS patients documented that flexion distraction spinal manipulation enhanced function, symptoms, and performance-based mobility in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (6) We also anticipate the outcomes of a prospective data collection study in its second year of follow-up with patients who were treated with CTFDD for relief of their LSS-associated back pain. Data collection will be completed in late 2023 with results being published in the years to come. Richmond lumbar spinal stenosis is everywhere, and its relieving partner is your Richmond chiropractor here at Johnson Chiropractic!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dean Greenwood on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes his alleviating treatment of a spinal stenosis patient with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

picture of Richmond spinal stenosis exercise and walking

TIP OF THE MONTH: Stretch, Strengthen, Walk for LSS Improvement

As a group of researchers sets up a new study to evaluate if a 6-week education and exercise program will enhanced the walking capacity of lumbar spinal stenosis patients who also have neurogenic claudication (7), we} suggest walking and exercising now! Lots of research shows that lumbar spinal stenosis responds to exercise. One study revealed that individualized exercise (stretches and strengthening) mixed with manual therapy (like out CTFDD spinal manipulation mobilization!) outperformed medical care and group exercise with more symptom and function improvement as well as walking capacity at 2 months of care. (8) Johnson Chiropractic has just the program of stretching, strengthening, and manipulation for you! We will design it together!

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

We are grateful for all of our patients here at Johnson Chiropractic and look forward to a healthy 2023! Make your next Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic soon to maximize your spine’s health. See you then!

"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."