Lumbar canal stenosis occurs when the lumbar spinal canal narrows, squeezing the nerves that travel down your legs. As more years pass, the bone and tissue surrounding the canal expand and cause that narrowing; the canal itself is already narrow. Arthritis, falls, injuries and overexertion of spinal muscles and bones also can cause lumbar canal stenosis. Consult your doctor or physiotherapist for treatment; they can compile an exercise program that fits your body and lifestyle.
Types
Two exercise groups can treat lumbar canal stenosis: strengthening and flexibility. Strengthening exercises use repetition to contract muscles and promote muscle growth, and focus on increasing the tone of the exercise to develop a more stable spine. Core stability exercises -- such as trunk raises and curl-ups, and leg exercises, such as alternative leg lifts -- make it easier to use proper lifting techniques that prevent back injury and promote a healthy spine, according to Stenosis-Spinal.com.
Flexibility exercises focus on stretching; the more flexible you are, the greater your range of motion. Such exercises include the hamstring stretch, the standing backward bend and the quadriceps stretch. Warm up your muscles before exercises such as the double knee to chest to prepare them for the work and prevent injury. Consult your physician before attempting any exercise.
Considerations
Strengthening and flexibility exercises may not provide everyone with pain relief; some may often feel numbness and pain in their legs and back. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can receive physical therapy from a licensed therapist, or you can take prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. You can also inquire about surgery.
Significance
Exercises that involve the flexion of the spine are highly recommended by spine specialists and physical therapists. Stenosis-Spinal notes that treating lumbar canal stenosis with exercises that involve flexion of the spine increases the amount of room in the spinal canal, allowing compression of the irritated nerve and resolution of pain. This may be why some people who suffer from this condition bend forward while using canes, walkers or other walking aids.
Symptoms
Generally, lumbar canal stenosis patients feel back pain; the degree of pain depends on the severity of the condition and varies with each patient. With excruciating pain comes numbness and tingling. However, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), not all patients will experience both burning pain and numbness at the same time. Patients may also experience a foot-drop if the pressure becomes severe, which is equivalent to the feeling you get when your foot makes contact with the ground. Those who need to lean forward, especially while seated, may feel an increase in their pain when standing up straight and walking.
Prevention/Solution
According to FamilyDoctor.org, treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms; some programs may be more demanding than others. Physical therapists may recommend exercise programs if pain is mild; however, those who suffer from excruciating amounts of pain should consider seeing a spine surgeon. The surgeon may recommend an operation such as a laminectomy or spinal fusion to take pressure off the nerves, each of which significantly reduces pain, according to the AAOS.
