Back and spine topic

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which can press on the spinal cord, or of the openings where spinal nerves leave the spine.

What it is

It can happen in the neck or in the low back, and the symptoms differ between the two.

What people may notice

Symptoms usually come on gradually. People may describe:

Numbness, cramping or pain in the back, buttocks or legs
Numbness, tingling or pain in the neck, shoulders or arms
Weakness in an arm or leg
Symptoms that are worse when standing or walking and eased by sitting or leaning forward

What may be connected with it

Age-related changes, such as spinal discs that dry out and bulge, and spinal bones and ligaments that thicken
Arthritis of the spine
A narrow spinal canal from birth
A past herniated disc, an injury or a fracture

What Physical Therapy may involve

A plan is based on the evaluation. Depending on the findings, it may include some, all or none of the following:

Stretching and range-of-motion exercises
Strengthening exercises for the trunk, back and limbs
Aerobic exercise, such as walking, when the evaluation supports it
Manual therapy to work on joint and muscle mobility
Education about posture for standing, walking and sitting

When to get medical care first

See the full safety checklist

Go to an emergency department right away if:

You have low back pain with loss of bowel or bladder control
You have low back pain with numbness in the groin or inner thigh

Contact a medical professional promptly if:

Your balance is poor when you walk
Numbness or weakness in an arm or leg is getting worse
You have problems controlling urination or bowel movements

Contact a medical professional if:

You notice symptoms of spinal stenosis, such as numbness, cramping or pain in the back, buttocks, legs, neck, shoulders or arms

If you are unsure what is causing your symptoms, ask a medical professional. Information online is not a diagnosis.

What an evaluation may look at

Your history, including where symptoms are felt and which activities bring them on or ease them
Strength, sensation and reflexes in the arms and legs
Posture, how you walk and your balance
Movement of the spine and limbs, plus joint and muscle mobility
Whether imaging or a medical assessment is needed, which a medical professional arranges

Before your visit, it can help to note which positions bring on symptoms, what eases them, and what you would like to be able to do again.

How Physical Therapy may fit

A Shanti physical therapist begins with an evaluation. If Physical Therapy looks like a good fit, the plan is built around what the evaluation shows and the tasks you want to get back to. Depending on the findings, a plan may use some, all or none of these approaches:

Request an appointment

Send a request and we will contact you by the next business day. Submitting a request does not confirm an appointment; your appointment is confirmed only after the clinic responds.