Physical therapy for spinal stenosis is used to alleviate the chronic back or neck pain associated with this condition. It can also help put you back on track to doing the things you love like taking a morning walk, traveling, swinging a golf club, or tending to your garden.
Spinal stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of your lower back or neck regions. This narrowing often occurs because of the normal degeneration of your spine as you age. Spinal stenosis can also be caused by a herniated disc, spinal tumors, bone spurs, Paget’s disease, or spinal trauma. To learn more about this condition, visit our spinal stenosis page.
Thankfully, physical therapy can be beneficial to those patients suffering from symptoms like:
- Radiating pain
- Numbness and weakness
- Joint or muscle stiffness
- Muscle spasms and cramping
- Discomfort when leaning backwards
- Loss of balance
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing any of these effects. He or she can determine whether or not the pain you feel is caused by spinal stenosis. In addition to physical therapy, treatment options may include over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to relieve inflammation and pain. To review other treatment tips, read our spinal stenosis treatments page.
Physical therapy for spinal stenosis can alleviate your pain as well as improve your strength, range of motion and flexibility. Therapy can involve:
- Deep tissue massage
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Water aerobics, yoga, walking, and bicycling
As with all treatments, you should always consult your doctor before attempting physical therapy or exercise. You also should seek physical therapy from a licensed physical therapist, as trying this type of therapy by yourself could result in further injury to your spine.
Unfortunately, there may be situations in which patients need more relief than what physical therapy can provide them. In these cases, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that feature fast healing times and relieve symptoms in the vast majority of patients. For a free CT scan or MRI review, and to learn more information about our revolutionary procedures, contact LSI today.
