What Activities Should Be Avoided With Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a painful narrowing of the spinal canal and can result in radiating pain into the arms and legs, lost range of motion, weakness, and numbness/tingling. Most people with spinal stenosis visit a pain management clinic to find remedies for the flares and discomfort. You might also be performing various exercises, hoping the condition will go away. 

Pain Management Clinic Recommends Avoiding These 3 Activities

Regular working out can aid recovery and resolve various health conditions, but some activities may be counterproductive. Patients diagnosed with spinal stenosis should consult their physician for more insights into what to do and avoid. Here are three exercises you should avoid doing as each can put extra strain on your spinal cord:

1.    Back Extension

You shouldn’t perform any activity resulting in excessive back extension. Many people perform a lumbar extension after sitting or hunching over for long periods. The exercise involves standing straight, placing your hands on your hips, and leaning back as far as you can. Excessive back extension will further narrow your spinal canal and can exacerbate symptoms of spinal stenosis.

If you experience more discomfort after completing back extension, it’s advisable to avoid such stretches and any other activity that causes your back/lumbar to excessive stretching. Any activity requiring bending over backward isn’t safe when treating spinal stenosis.

2.    Free Weights

Free weights compress your spine like extension exercises, flattening the discs between your vertebrae. Placing weight bars across your shoulders, performing squats, and all types of weight lifting result in the same. Spinal compression can also put extra pressure on surrounding nerves. The human body can handle spine compression to a certain level. Those with spinal stenosis will barely handle compression without feeling pain and discomfort

A weight machine is much more effective if you still want to lift weight despite the condition. The weight machine can stabilize other body parts, allowing you to strengthen your arms or legs without compressing your back. If you must lift free weights, do it under supervision.

3.    Running and High Impact

Running or walking for long distances can irritate your spinal stenosis, resulting in more discomfort. The activity causes you to thump hard on the ground, increasing the spinal load on your discs. High impact activities like burpees and contact sports are not advisable if you have stenosis. The repeated trauma can make the pain unbearable and worsen your symptoms.

You can substitute high-impact exercises with low-impact alternatives like swimming and cycling. These activities still boost your metabolism and burn more calories without placing extra strain on your spinal discs. Other options include water walking in chest-high waters and the elliptical machine. If you must jog or run, limit the activity to short distances.

Trustworthy Pain Management Services

Spinal stenosis can result in considerable pain and calls for prompt remedy. Patients should follow all recommendations from their physicians to achieve proper healing and recovery. Some conditions may require surgery, while others can resolve with medication and other therapies such as injections.

At St Louis Pain Consultants, we provide a leading pain management facility in St. Louis, Missouri area. We specialize in treating chronic pain causes and symptoms and are passionate about helping our clients recover their everyday life and health. You can work with our specialists to diagnose the cause of your stenosis and determine the best recovery plan.