What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal becomes narrow. It occurs when excess bone or tissue grows within the spaces of the spinal bones, causing irritation on the spinal cord. Besides the lower back, this condition can affect other parts of the lower body as well- producing pain and weakness in the legs, feet, and buttocks areas. If you’re feeling excruciating pain, contact our physical therapy in Garden City today!

What are the causes?

The most common cause of lumbar spinal stenosis is age since the spinal cord can experience a variety of changes as you get older. Development of bone spurs may occur and some spinal joints will eventually break down. These conditions will slowly narrow the spinal cord and can cause pain. Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis include lower back pain, leg pain, and stiffness in the leg and thighs. It can gradually worsen over time, so it’s always best to get treated as soon as you feel pain and stiffness.

How can physical therapy in Garden City help?

Physical therapy will help relieve the pain, as well as reduce the numbness in your legs and lower back. In most cases, treating lumbar spinal stenosis involves exercising, stretching, and taking medicine. Exercises include stretching your lower limbs and pelvic tilts. Just like any exercise, it is important to maintain a good posture. Exercises should be planned and recommended by a physical therapist before utilizing any physical activity that prevents the symptoms from getting worse. If the pain persists, then surgery may be required. However, most cases can be treated solely with rehab and physical therapy.

It is difficult to prevent lumbar spinal stenosis from aging. The best way to prevent it is to stay healthy, maintain a healthy weight, practice good posture, and exercise regularly. Smoking is also linked to lumbar spinal stenosis because it can cause back pain and make it more difficult for spinal discs to recover. Our physical therapy in Garden City can make a custom plan to give you the help you need!

Contact us

Proper treatment and physical therapy will help you heal from lumbar spinal stenosis. The physical therapists at Movement Concepts Physical Therapy will help you recover and educate you to prevent future lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms. It is important to exercise on a daily basis to prevent stiffness in your back. If you’re a Long Island resident looking for treatment, set up an appointment with our physical therapy in Garden City today.