A non-surgical approach to the management of lumbar spinal stenosis: A prospective observational cohort study
BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2006
Clinically meaningful improvement in disability was seen in over two-thirds of the patients, and the improvement appeared to be maintained over an average of 16.5 months after cessation of treatment–a viable alternative to surgery for patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). As the efficacy of surgery does not appear to decrease if it is delayed in favor of a non-surgical trial [36], most patients with LSS should be treated non-surgically for a period of time before considering operation.
Improvements measured:
- Reduces intradiscal pressure by increasing space between bones
- Neurophysiological effects: facilitation of afferent input from mechanoreceptors
- Improves proprioception
- Decreases pain response of nerves