Réhabital
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment
Having to stop after a few hundred metres because of heavy legs, then feeling better leaning on a shopping cart, is the classic picture of lumbar spinal stenosis. In Cote Saint Luc we work specifically on increasing your walking distance.
Book an AppointmentUnderstanding This Condition
Lumbar stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal or of the foramina where nerve roots exit. It usually results from degenerative change: thickened ligamentum flavum, facet arthritis, disc bulging. Standing and extending closes the canal further, compressing nerve roots and producing neurogenic claudication — leg pain, heaviness or numbness on walking that eases with forward bending or sitting. That is why people walk better leaning on a cart or riding a bike. Rehabilitation uses this mechanism: improve flexion tolerance, strengthen hips and trunk, and progressively train walking capacity.
Common Symptoms
Common Causes
Facet joint arthritis
Enlarged posterior joints reduce the space available for nerve roots.
Thickened ligamentum flavum
This ligament thickens with age and bulges into the canal, especially in extension.
Disc bulge or herniation
A degenerative disc lowers disc height and narrows the foramen.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis
One vertebra sliding on another mechanically reduces canal diameter.
Our Treatment Approach
Assessment establishes your pain-free walking distance, tolerance to extension and flexion, and hip and trunk strength. The program includes lumbar flexion exercises, gentle neural mobilisation, trunk and glute strengthening, and interval walking training with graded progression. Osteopathy improves hip and pelvic mobility, which reduces the lumbar extension demand during walking. Massage therapy eases paraspinal tension. We also adapt sleeping positions and strategies for errands and travel.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Allow 60 minutes for the assessment. Progress is measured in walking distance: many patients double their non-stop distance within eight to twelve weeks of consistent work.
At-Home Self-Care Tips
- Walk in short intervals with planned sitting breaks before symptoms appear.
- Use a stationary bike to maintain cardiovascular fitness.
- Do prescribed flexion exercises daily.
- Avoid long motionless standing.
- Strengthen glutes and deep abdominals regularly.
Prognosis & Recovery Timeline
Stenosis is degenerative, but function often improves substantially with rehabilitation. Some cases need surgical decompression; physiotherapy remains valuable before and after.
When to See Us at Réhabital
Come in if your walking distance is shrinking. Loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle numbness or rapidly progressing leg weakness is a medical emergency.
Why Réhabital Clinic
We objectively measure walking distance at each stage, making progress visible and letting us fine-tune the program.
Recommended Services for This Condition
Our Core Treatments in Côte Saint-Luc
Related Conditions
Why Choose Réhabital?
Frequently Asked Questions
Address
D4-5800 Cavendish Blvd
Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5
Phone
(438) 842-3550Hours
Mon–Fri: 10AM–8PM
Sun: 10AM–4PM
Relieve Your Pain Today
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