Spinal stenosis affects gait…and today they’re working with “smart
shoes” to measure gait abnormalities and associated
altered walking patterns! Our Montreal chiropractic
patients experiencing spinal stenosis often remark
that they walk differently. That makes sense! Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic can help relieve
Montreal 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 have 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 had locomotive syndrome while 24.8% had frailty. Post-surgically,
those with frailty displayed improvement in locomotion.
(1) Yet surgery does not 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 had 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 delivered 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 beneficial!
SPINAL STENOSIS AND POSTURE
It’s also good to understand
that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patient’s static spine and pelvic posture are
associated with their symptoms. A new study investigated the question of how dynamic alignment
of the spine and pelvic might be connected to lumbar spinal
function in the daily life of LSS sufferers and discovered
that weak hip or trunk extensor muscles, a more pronounced pelvic
tilt angle, or smaller spinal flexion during gait resulted
in decreased daily-life lumbar function. (4) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
aims to enhance the quality of life for our Montreal
spinal stenosis patients and appreciates studies that divulge
what works. A future study’s goal is to ascertain
a set of data that can assist in defining and/or altering 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 Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic 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 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 detect
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 Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic knows them well!
Find out during your exam!
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 relieve spinal stenosis and improve
balance.
Make your Montreal chiropractic
appointment today to see us especially if you find
your gait being “off” and/or experience back pain. Spinal stenosis
may be the culprit, and Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic knows how to rein it
in!