Physical Edge Physiotherapy is Oakville’s premier full service Sport Medicine treatment facility. We specialize in rehabilitation for the active person. Our therapists have extensive experience in treating musculoskeletal injury and we use a hands-on approach to your rehabilitation. Treatment sessions are individualized to meet your specific needs. Our therapists are specialists in advanced manual therapy techniques, exercise prescription and acupuncture.
Physical Edge Physiotherapy is Oakville’s premier full service Sport Medicine treatment facility. We specialize in rehabilitation for the active person. Our therapists have extensive experience in treating musculoskeletal injury and we use a hands-on approach to your rehabilitation. Treatment sessions are individualized to meet your specific needs. Our therapists are specialists in advanced manual therapy techniques, exercise prescription and acupuncture.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis
Anatomy and Biomechanics
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs through a tunnel formed by your vertebrae. The tunnel is called the spinal canal . Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower part of your back. This usually occurs due to arthritis or degenerative changes in the spine.
Stenosis can cause pressure on your spinal cord or the nerves that go from your spinal cord to your muscles. This commonly causes an aching or cramping pain in the lower back, buttocks, thighs or calves. These symptoms usually become worse when standing and walking because the spinal openings (canals) shrink during these activities.
Spinal stenosis can happen in any part of your spine but is most common in the lower back or lumbar spine.
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Signs and Symptoms
Typical symptoms include:
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Back pain
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Burning pain going into the buttocks and down into the legs (sciatica)
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Numbness, tingling, cramping, or weakness in the legs
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Loss of sensation in the feet
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A weakness in a foot that causes the foot to slap down when walking. This is also called foot drop.
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Loss of sexual ability
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Pressure on nerves in the lumbar region can also cause more serious symptoms known as cauda equina syndrome. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to go to your nearest emergency department:
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Loss of bowel or bladder control
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Severe or increasing numbness between your legs, inner thighs, and back of the legs
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Severe pain and weakness that spreads into one or both legs. This makes it hard to walk or get out of a chair.
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How Physiotherapy Helps
The spinal stenosis 6-week bootcamp at the clinic includes:
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Education on condition, activity modification, pain management, general conditioning and teaching strategies on how to self-manage the condition for life.
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Targeted manual therapy 2x/week, to help open up the spaces in the lumbar spine to help with blood flow of the spinal nerves.
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Progressive home exercise programs to improve strength, flexibility of the lumbar spine, pelvis and hips
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An education/home exercise booklet log to track your progress over the 6 weeks bootcamp.