Physical therapy treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis.
BACKGROUND
Given the dearth of high quality research on conservative treatment for spinal stenosis, an empirical understanding of the scope of physical therapy provided in the community can help focus research and build standards of care.


OBJECTIVE
Provide preliminary insight into current physical therapy practice in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), from both patient and physical therapist perspectives.


METHODS
Patients greater than 50 years of age with LSS diagnosed by a spine surgeon were recruited to participate in a telephone survey regarding treatment. Physical therapists were recruited to complete a survey regarding treatments offered to patients with LSS.


RESULTS
Of the patients participating in the study (n=75), 44 (59%) reported receiving physical therapy treatment. Treatments most frequently reported by patients were massage (27%), strengthening exercises (23%), flexibility exercises (18%), and heat/ice (14%). The most frequently advocated treatments by the 76 physical therapists included flexibility (87%), stabilization (86%) and strengthening exercises (83%), followed by heat/ice (76%), acupuncture (63%) and joint mobilization (62%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results can guide both clinical research priorities and standards of care for physical therapy treatments of LSS. Based on the results of this study, future research foci should include massage, flexibility and strengthening exercises, stabilization techniques and heat/ice treatments.
Department of Physical Education and Recreation, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3E 6K. ctomkins@mtroyal.ca
Christy C
CC
Tomkins
Katherine H
KH
Dimoff
Holly S
HS
Forman
Emily S
ES
Gordon
Jennifer
J
McPhail
Joyce R
JR
Wong
Michele C
MC
Battié
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome