Spinal Stenosis

The vertebral column, also known as the spine, is a complex structure of our body which is
part of the axial skeleton, constituting the central part of our body. The spine is composed of
33 smaller units called vertebrae, 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4
coccygeal. The vertebrae present a canal in their posterior part in which the neural system
passes through and innervates different structures to allow sensation and movements.
Spinal stenosis is a condition of the spine canal that occurs when the spinal cord, the neural
system that passes through the spinal canal, gets compressed due to a narrowing of the
spinal spaces. This narrowing can be either congenital or happening over time. A gradual narrowing can be caused by several factors such as an injury reported to the spine, bone conditions that lead to its overgrowth (e.g.: osteoarthritis), disk pathologies (bulges or herniations), and other medical conditions (e.g.: cysts). Depending on the specifics of the condition, significantly different symptoms can be reported by patients affected by this condition from being completely asymptomatic to severe back pain and neural symptoms (e.g.: tingling, burning, weakness, etc.). Aside from collecting data from the injury mechanisms and performing a physical assessment of the patient, an imaging examination (e.g.: x-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.) is required to optimally visualise the specifics of the injury. It is important to underline that the presence of anatomical abnormalities of the spine detected through imaging is not necessarily related to the symptoms experienced by the patient and that false positives are common. For this reason, a holistic approach is paramount in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with back conditions.

Management

Based on the severity of the condition, significantly different treatment strategies can be implemented in the management of this condition. Conservative treatment is typically the first line of treatment, consisting of rehabilitation and pharmacological intervention (e.g.:
medications, injections, etc.). In more severe cases when surgical treatment is deemed necessary, several different procedures can be implemented based on the patient’s needs and are always discussed between the patient and the medical-surgical staff. In Isokinetic, after being thoughtfully visited by one of our specialised doctors, your recovery process will be structured in different stages and take place in four different environments, the pool, the
gym, the movement analysis and retraining room, and the pitch. Likewise for all the other medical conditions, a global approach (bio-psycho-social), centred on your needs will be
implemented. In the early stages, the main goal of the rehabilitation is to minimise the symptoms related to the condition. Mobility recovery and muscle activation are typically progressed with respect to maintaining spinal stability. In the mid-stage of rehabilitation, core
and upper/lower limb strength and stability recovery become the priority, together with the optimisation of the general movement quality to learn how to effectively distribute the load among different structures (back, hip, knee) during daily living, and sports activities. Finally,
to complete the recovery process, on-field rehabilitation plays a fundamental role in allowing our patients to return to participate in their favourite activities, maximising the outcomes and reducing the likelihood of complications.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis

Management

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