Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart
shoes” to track gait abnormalities and connected
distorted walking patterns! Our Minster chiropractic
patients experiencing spinal stenosis often comment
that they walk differently. That makes sense! Minster Chiropractic Center can help alleviate
Minster back pain and the related effects of spinal stenosis.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS
Older folks are ever
more affected by frailty and locomotive syndrome, and those
who also experience lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more
affected. In a study of such patients who were going to undergo surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, all but 1 of the 234
patients had locomotive syndrome while 24.8% had frailty. Post-surgically,
those with frailty showed improvement in locomotion.
(1) Yet surgery doesn’t necessarily enhance gait
for all spinal stenosis patients. Researchers evaluated 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 walks
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 produced 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 understand
that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are
associated with their symptoms. A recent study investigated the question of how dynamic alignment
of the spine and pelvic might be related to lumbar spinal
function in the daily life of LSS sufferers and found
that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic
tilt angle, or smaller spinal flexion during gait gave rise to reduced daily-life lumbar function. (4) Minster Chiropractic Center
seeks to enhance the quality of life for our Minster
spinal stenosis patients and values studies that divulge
what works. A future study’s goal is to establish
a set of data that can help define and/or
alter patient treatment plans, indications for surgery, and routines
for post-surgery rehab for lumbar spinal stenosis patients who choose
to have surgery. These patients come with a unique set of
issues regarding posture, balance, ambulation biomechanics,
paraspinal muscle quality and fatigue rates, as well as symptoms. (5) All of
these contribute to a lumbar spinal stenosis
patient’s care at Minster Chiropractic Center and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To make sure that the clinical outcome is 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 might not be for everyone - the old fashioned in-clinic
tests still work, and Minster Chiropractic Center knows them well!
Find out during your examination!
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 increase
balance.
Make your Minster chiropractic
appointment today to visit us especially if you find
your gait being “off” and/or experience back pain. Spinal stenosis
may be the culprit, and Minster Chiropractic Center knows how to rein it
in!