Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart
shoes” to measure gait abnormalities and associated
altered walking patterns! Our McHenry chiropractic
patients who have spinal stenosis often comment
that they walk differently. That makes sense! OrthoIllinois Chiropractic can help alleviate
McHenry back pain and the related effects of spinal stenosis.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS
Older folks are more and more affected 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 heading
for surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, all but 1 of the 234
patients were documented to have locomotive syndrome while 24.8% were
documented to be frail. After surgery,
those with frailty showed improvement in locomotion.
(1) Yet surgery doesn’t necessarily improve 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 see
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 change 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
enhanced function, symptomatology, and performance-based
mobility. Further all of their subjective improvement outcomes were
statistically and clinically important. (3) This is valuable!
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 recent study explored the question of how dynamic alignment
of the spine and pelvic might be related to lumbar spinal
function in the everyday life of LSS sufferers and discovered
that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic
tilt angle, or less spinal flexion during gait resulted
in reduced daily-life lumbar function. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
seeks to improve the quality of life for our McHenry
spinal stenosis patients and appreciates studies that divulge
what works. An up-coming study’s goal is to form
a set of data that can assist in defining and/or altering patient treatment plans, signs 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 concerning 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 OrthoIllinois Chiropractic 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 be of help. With lumbar spinal stenosis come gait
abnormalities like decreased gait speed and unevenness due to muscle weakness and pain in the lower extremities. Have no fear! “Smart shoes” to
the rescue! 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 analyzed - since
smart shoes may not be for everyone - the old fashioned in-clinic
tests remain effective, and OrthoIllinois Chiropractic knows them well!
Find out during your examination!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management helps ease spinal stenosis and improve
balance.
Make your McHenry chiropractic
appointment soon to see us especially if you find
your gait being “off” and/or have back pain. Spinal stenosis
may be the offender, and OrthoIllinois Chiropractic knows how to rein it
in!