1. Get the Tension Rubbed Out
Stenosis narrows the spaces between the discs in your back, making you unable to stand straight or walk exactly right. You may not even notice the difference, but it's there, and it causes muscle tension to build up day after day. A massage therapist will relieve this tension by applying different degrees of pressure to the soft tissues around your spine. The muscles stretch and relax, and blood flow to the area is increased, which reduces pain and increases flexibility. Regular massage can keep the symptoms of spinal stenosis under control in many people.
2. Use Hot and Cold Packs
You can use hot and cold backs to treat spinal stenosis that isn't serious enough for surgery. If you have any tissue swelling, muscle spasms or inflammation, your therapist will probably apply cold packs to your back. The cold constricts the blood vessels in the area, reducing blood flow and inflammation. Your therapist might also apply a hot pack during alternating visits. Hot packs increase blood flow to the targeted area, which promotes healing by bringing additional oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.
3. Get the Right Kind of Exercise
Your physical therapist will teach you different exercises to perform to strengthen the muscles around your spine. These exercises will be particular to you and your situation, and not everyone with spinal stenosis will be asked to do the same exercises. As you stretch and lift weights to increase muscle strength, you'll provide your body with the strength it needs to properly support your spine, which will relieve some pain and slow its progress. In most cases, your physical therapist will give you separate exercises to perform at home, which will differ from those used during therapy sessions.
