Spinal Stenosis

Overview

Spinal stenosis occurs when the space around the spinal column becomes narrower and so compresses the spinal nerve.

Spinal Stenosis

Symptoms

The main symptoms of spinal stenosis are:

  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Weakness
  • Tingling sensations in the legs

This can cause pain when walking or standing for prolonged periods.

Causes

Age is the main cause of spinal stenosis, as the bones of the spine may become worn with age and so lead to a narrowing of the spinal column.

Tightening of the back muscles may also be a contributing factor. Where this is the case physical therapy can help to reduce the tightness, help the muscles relax and reduce the compression on the spinal column.

Treatment

In some cases where the narrowing is caused by compression from the muscle tissue, due to tightening of the muscles, this can be relieved with physical therapy. 

At The Hannon Clinic, we focus on finding the cause of the tightening of the muscles as well as working to relieve them.