According to a study made, as many as 75% of us suffer from back pain or neck pain at some point of our lifetime. Spinal Stenosis is also one of such causes of back pain that affects the bones of your back by narrowing the openings within the bones.

What do we mean by Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal Stenosis is a condition causing the narrowing of spinal canal which in turn puts too much pressure either on the spinal cord or the nerve roots. Staying active and exercising regularly is the most efficient way to treat Spinal Stenosis. This condition can occur both in the neck or the lower back.

What are the most common causes of Spinal Stenosis?

Most of the major causes of Spinal Stenosis are related with the ageing process of spine. It may occur due to:

• Gradual degenerative ageing process of spine
• Thickening and calcifying of spinal ligaments
• Bone spurs due to the enlargement of bones and joints that occurs due bone stress
• Dehydration of spinal discs between the vertebrae due to age
• Spinal osteoarthritis that is accompanied by the overgrowth of bone formation or bone spurs
• Flattening of discs due to normal ageing and wear and tear
• Spinal injuries, tumors and bone diseases like (Paget Disease) may also lead to Spinal Stenosis

What are the signs and symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal Stenosis may cause the following symptoms including:

• Weakness, pain, tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, trunk or shoulders
• Muscle weakness
• Diminished reflex cramping in the arms or legs
• If your Lumbar Spine is stenotic, you may feel pain radiating from the low back and into the buttocks and legs
• If a nerve root is being pushed on due to the narrowing of space within the spine, you may feel pain radiating to nerve which reduces with sitting

What are the Physical Therapy treatment options opted to treat Spinal Stenosis?

Your physical therapist will design treatment program for you depending upon the evaluations’ and your personal goals as well. He will suggest a treatment program that will be a combination of different exercises:

• Stretching exercises may be suggested to eliminate stress on joints and to improve flexibility as well
• Work ergonomics to improve your posture at work
• Strengthening exercises may be recommended to support your spinal joints for strong arms’ and legs’ muscle
• Manual therapy may be administered to improvise joint mobility
• Deep tissue massage therapy may be used to release tension in the soft tissues
• Hot and cold therapies may be applied alternatively to eliminate inflammation, muscle spasms, pain and swelling
• TENS and Ultrasound therapy may be used to treat muscle cramping, stiffness and pain
• Aquatic exercises may be suggested to help your body to exercise without putting pressure on the spine

Contact Alliance Physical Therapy for the state-of-art and efficient treatment of any of your musculoskeletal problems or diseases. Our professional and diligent Physical Therapists use patient-proven methods and top-notch techniques to treat your problems and help you to get back to your work as early as possible.