As an executive mum managing a high-stress job, family responsibilities, and possibly back pain, lumbar spinal stenosis can add another layer of difficulty to your daily life. Lumbar spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal (central stenosis) or the foramina (foraminal stenosis). Central stenosis compresses the spinal cord, while foraminal stenosis affects the nerves running to the lower body, causing pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates down the legs or feet. In this blog lets discuss if walking makes lumbar spinal stenosis worse.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is often aggravated by activities that involve backward bending or extension of the spine, such as walking, standing for long periods, or even some forms of exercise. Walking, especially on flat surfaces, can worsen the symptoms due to the spine’s extension, increasing pressure on compressed nerves. You may experience discomfort, numbness, or tingling or other forms of nerve pain in your legs as a result. Spinal stenosis may or may not cause pain in the lower back, depending on the cause of the stenosis. This can range from from bony spurs from spinal arthritis or osteoarthritis, a herniated disc or bulging disc or degenerative disc diseases, an injury such as a spinal fracture or a tumour or facet joint arthropathy, etc.
Watch this video to learn What does Spinal Stenosis feel like (symptoms of stenosis)?
Interestingly, walking uphill or on an incline can provide relief, as your body naturally leans forward, reducing the pressure on the spine. A key test to diagnose lumbar stenosis is the “Two-Stage Treadmill Test.” In this test, the patient walks on a flat treadmill and then on an incline. Relief experienced while walking on an incline may indicate lumbar stenosis.
A useful self-assessment that you can do is the “Shopping Cart Test,” where the you walk with and without a shopping cart. Less pain while using the cart often signals the presence of stenosis because of the forward-leaning position that reduces nerve compression. This is why people with lumbar spinal stenosis often find themselves leaning over shopping carts or resting their hands on their knees to alleviate pain.
Understanding these subtle differences and tests can help you manage your symptoms better, making sure you have the energy and pain relief to balance your busy life effectively.
In summary, while walking on flat surfaces may aggravate lumbar spinal stenosis due to the extension of the spine, walking on an incline can provide relief by encouraging a forward bend. It’s important to listen to your body and incorporate modifications into your walking routine to prevent worsening of the condition.
If you are not sure about the cause of your back pain click HERE to get a free guide on "What is the Source of your Back Pain?"
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