Spinal Stenosis Affects Gait and Causes Back Pain
Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart shoes” to track gait irregularities and associated altered walking patterns! Our Largo chiropractic patients dealing with spinal stenosis often comment that they walk differently. That makes sense! Hollstrom & Associates Inc can help relieve Largo 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 experience lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more bothered by it. In a study of such patients who were going to undergo 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 showed improvement in locomotion. (1) Yet surgery does not necessarily improve gait for all spinal stenosis patients. Researchers measured the sagittal vertical axis using a gait motion analysis with lumbar spinal stenosis patients before and after they underwent decompression surgery to determine 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 was not a variation in sagittal vertical axis, but there was significant difference 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 know that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are linked to their symptoms. A new study investigated the question of how dynamic alignment of the spine and pelvic might be connected to lumbar spinal function in the everyday life of LSS sufferers and found that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic tilt angle, or less spinal flexion during gait gave rise to reduced daily-life lumbar function. (4) Hollstrom & Associates Inc aims to enhance the quality of life for our Largo spinal stenosis patients and values studies that disclose what works. A future study’s goal is to ascertain a set of data that can assist in defining and/or altering 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 distinctive set of issues concerning 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 Hollstrom & Associates Inc and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To ensure as good an outcome as possible, new tech 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. Don’t worry though. There are “smart shoes” to help. Smart shoes are wearable sensors that can identify gait changes quicker, easier, and cheaper. (6) In the meantime while their accuracy and cost-effectiveness are explored - since smart shoes may not be for everyone - the old fashioned in-clinic tests still work, and Hollstrom & Associates Inc knows them well! Find out during your examination!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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 relieve spinal stenosis and improve balance.
Make your Largo chiropractic appointment today to see us especially if you find your gait being “off” and/or experience back pain. Spinal stenosis may be the culprit, and Hollstrom & Associates Inc knows how to rein it in!
