Physiotherapy and Spinal Stenosis

Physiotherapy and Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition characterised by narrowing of the spinal canal (space), which can progress to compression of the spine and or spinal nerves. Spinal canal refers to the space at each spinal level where the nerves exit to the specific structures they serve.  

Spinal stenosis is most common in the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back). 

Causes:

  • Facet Joint degeneration secondary to the aging process
  • History of trauma to the spine or low back pain 
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Repetitive lifting, twisting, bending and/ or prolonged sitting
  • Traumatic incident ie. motor vehicle accident secondary to spinal dislocations or fracture
  • Spinal tumours or cysts
  • Congenital narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Thickening of ligaments
  • Spondylolisthesis (forward slipping of one vertebrae body beneath it)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis of the spine
  • Disc protrusion or bulging

Risk Factors:

  •  Age > 40 years
  • Genetics
  • Overweight
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Biomechanical abnormalities
  • Inappropriate lifting technique
  • Poor core stability
  • Muscle imbalance
  • Poor flexibility
  • Lower back stiffness
  • Poor posture
  • Repetitive sitting, lifting, twisting, bending
  • Previous injury to the lower back
  • Trauma to the lower back
  • Malnutrition

Symptoms:

  • Minor canal stenosis
  • Little or no symptoms
  • Low back pain and/ or ache (as the condition progresses when the lower back is affected)
  • Low back pain stiffness (as the condition progresses when the lower back is affected)
  • Neck pain and / or ache (as the condition progresses when the neck is affected)
  • Neck stiffness (as the condition progresses when the neck is affected)

Severe canal stenosis

  • Pain, Heaviness, Burning and/ or numbness sensations in the arms and hands (when the neck is affected)
  • Weakness in the arms and hands (when the neck is affected)
  • Pain, Heaviness, Burning and/ or numbness sensations in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, feet (when the lower back if affected)
  • Pain with lower back movements (and with weights) such as prolonged walking, standing, lifting (when the lower back if affected)
  • Weakness in the legs (when the lower back if affected)

Medical Emergency

Bowel or bladder dysfunction, bilateral lower limb weakness, saddle anaesthesia (cauda equina or conus medullaris syndromes)

Assessment:

Your physiotherapist will provide a correct diagnosis of your condition based on your clinical examination, symptom behaviour and history. Further investigations such as an X-ray, MRI or CT scan may be required to exclude or confirm diagnosis. 

Treatment: 

Evidence suggests physiotherapy treatments are effective in achieving symptom relief.  Physiotherapy treatment consist of the following: education and advice on activities modification and posture, postural retraining, unloading taping techniques, manual therapy, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, equipment (ie. back brace) and exercise prescription. 

In the initial stages, the main focus is on inflammation and pain reduction. Once this has been achieved, the physiotherapy treatment goal is to restore range of movement and normal joint alignment, muscle length, muscle strength and endurance. 

During the rehabilitation process, the following will also be addressed: core stability, spine and pelvic alignment and its range of movement, outer core and leg muscle power. The final stage of the physiotherapy rehabilitation process is to restore overall function in order to return to a sports/ activities program, and to prevent reoccurrence. 

Speak with our qualified team

Make a booking online with Edgewater Physiotherapy for expert help with your condition. We can treat all kinds of symptoms and always provide an excellent level of service. Contact us to find out more.