Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart
shoes” to measure gait abnormalities and connected
transformed walking patterns! Our Groton chiropractic
patients dealing with spinal stenosis often comment
that they walk differently. That makes sense! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office can help alleviate
Groton back pain and the related effects of spinal stenosis.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS
Older folks are increasingly affected by frailty and locomotive syndrome, and those
who also have lumbar spinal stenosis find themselves even more
affected. 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% had frailty. After surgery,
those with frailty showed improvement in locomotion.
(1) Yet surgery does not 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 had decompression surgery to determine
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 variation in sagittal vertical axis, but there
was significant change 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 beneficial!
SPINAL STENOSIS AND POSTURE
It’s also good to understand
that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are
related to their symptoms. A new study explored the matter of how dynamic alignment
of the spine and pelvic might be connected to lumbar spinal
function in the everyday life of LSS sufferers and discovered
that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a greater pelvic
tilt angle, or less spinal flexion during gait gave rise to reduced daily-life lumbar function. (4) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
seeks to improve the quality of life for our Groton
spinal stenosis patients and values studies that disclose
what works. A future study’s goal is to form
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 distinctive 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office and outcome.
SPINAL STENOSIS AND BACK PAIN AND SMART SHOES!
To make sure that the clinical outcome is as
good an outcome as possible, technology may come
to the rescue. With lumbar spinal stenosis come gait
abnormalities like decreased gait velocity
and asymmetry 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 sense
gait variations 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 remain effective, and Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office knows them well!
Find out during your exam!
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 increase
balance.
Schedule your Groton chiropractic
appointment soon to see us especially if you find
your gait being “off” and/or have back pain. Spinal stenosis
may be the culprit, and Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office knows how to deal with it!