Spinal Stenosis Exercises

Spinal Stenosis Exercises are a conservative back pain treatment option for this common spinal condition. Many patients with mild to moderate spinal stenosis are prescribed stretches and exercises as part of their treatment regimen. The success or failure of this treatment modality depends on several factors including the actual cause of the pain, the extent of the stenosis and the reaction of the patient.

Spinal Stenosis Exercises Theory

As with many back pain conditions, doctors do not always have a clear cut idea what exactly a specific treatment protocol is supposed to achieve. In the case of spinal stenosis, doctors will often argue that exercise helps to stretch and condition the spinal structures. Additionally, symptomatic stenosis is a condition that is worsened or relieved based on the movement of the spine. Bending or sitting for example, will often relieve lumbar stenosis pain since these activities create more room in the lower back spinal canal, taking pressure off the nerve roots and spinal cord.

Many doctors have simply followed traditional treatment protocol without questioning what the treatment is designed to actually achieve�

Spinal Stenosis Exercises Reality

Yes, certain positions certainly do relieve pressure on the spinal canal. This fact is demonstrable and might cause a momentary pause in symptoms. However, the results of position-related treatment such as stretching and exercise will not have any lasting effects on a stenosis condition. The actual reason why so many stenosis patients experience lasting relief from their pain when using exercise or stretches is from the increased oxygenation of the area due to the muscular workout. It is a known fact that ischemia is one of the most common causes of idiopathic and misdiagnosed back pain conditions. In this scenario, the exercise fights the ischemia, which in turn relieves the back pain. This idea makes MUCH MORE SENSE�

Recommendation on Spinal Stenosis Exercises

A percentage of painful stenosis conditions is actually caused by psychological back pain using the stenosis as a back pain scapegoat. Medical doctors will rarely diagnose this condition correctly and the patient is doomed to suffer one unsuccessful treatment after another. The solution to this common occurrence is to use knowledge therapy to determine the true psychological and emotional issues behind the pain. This treatment has shown far better permanent results for the successful relief of stenosis symptoms than most traditional medical or complementary treatment methods. This advice is highly recommended for all patients with long term chronic stenosis pain which has not responded to appropriate treatment.

As an aside, I do recommend exercises and stretches for general health and fitness. There is nothing wrong with doing spinal exercises since they will help you to achieve an improved physical condition. However, do not expect any miracle relief from this method, as it is simply symptomatic treatment and often directed at a mistaken causation�
Spinal Stenosis Exercises to Back Pain and Sciatica Home page 2/1/08