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Exercises for Treating Spinal Narrowing

If you are suffering from spinal stenosis (also referred to as spinal narrowing), your doctor will likely recommend a number of exercises designed for treating your condition. These exercises can often be effective for alleviating back or neck pain because they are designed to strengthen the muscles around the spine and take pressure off of the spinal cord and nerves in the spinal column. Additionally, exercises help prevent future injury and promote good body health. That being said, the problem with spinal stenosis is that the constriction of the spinal canal or foraminal canals is usually a result of the natural aging process and is incurred gradually over the years. As a result, more advanced treatment is often required to provide patients suffering from spinal stenosis with long-term relief.

Spinal Deterioration

As we age, our spinal anatomy naturally begins to deteriorate as a result of nothing more than regular wear and tear. The intervertebral discs that cushion the spine become brittle and can rupture, the vertebral joints that interlock adjacent vertebrae become arthritic, bone spurs develop in the spinal canal, and the vertebrae can become misaligned. As a result of these conditions, the spinal canal can become clogged with herniated disc material, osteophytes, calcified ligaments, inflamed tissue, and other types of deteriorated spinal anatomy. When this material compresses or irritates a nerve in the column, back or neck pain can occur.

Types of Treatment

Exercises for treating spinal narrowing are designed to strengthen the back or neck, increase flexibility, and hopefully provide the spinal cord and nerves with a little extra space in the canals. Some other examples of activities that might be initially recommended to patients who suffer from stenosis include:

• Hydrotherapy
• Low-impact exercises like walking
• Stretching techniques like yoga or Pilates
• Massage or chiropractics
• Physical therapy

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In the event that exercises and other conservative treatments fail to alleviate your pain in a meaningful way, you may be a candidate for spine surgery. If this is your situation and you are considering undergoing an open spine surgery, contact Laser Spine Institute to learn about our minimally invasive, outpatient procedures as a safe and effective alternative.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.