Condition
Spinal stenosis: causes, symptoms and treatment
A clinically reviewed guide to spinal stenosis — what it is, how it feels, and how it is managed.
Quick answer
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spine that can compress the spinal cord or nerves, most often in the lower back or neck. Many people manage symptoms with exercise, activity modification and manual therapy, with surgery reserved for severe cases.
Key facts
- Stenosis is usually caused by age-related changes in the spine.
- A classic feature is leg pain that eases when leaning forward or sitting.
- Most people are managed conservatively; surgery is for severe cases.
What is spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve passages, which can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
It develops most often with age as discs, joints and ligaments change. Symptoms depend on where the narrowing is — the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) regions are most commonly affected.
What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?
A classic pattern is leg pain, heaviness or numbness that comes on with walking or standing and eases with sitting or leaning forward.
- Leg pain, cramping or heaviness with walking or standing
- Relief when sitting or leaning forward (for example, on a trolley)
- Numbness or tingling in the legs
- Neck stenosis can cause arm symptoms or balance changes
How is spinal stenosis treated?
Most spinal stenosis is managed conservatively, with exercise, posture strategies, activity pacing and manual therapy.
Flexion-based exercises and walking programmes often help lumbar stenosis. Surgery is considered for severe or progressive nerve compression that does not respond to conservative care.
At Postura Wellness, care for spinal stenosis is built around OrthoRestore™ — our signature method that combines chiropractic and physiotherapy into one coordinated plan. Depending on your assessment, it can bring together chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, muscle manipulation, Active Release Technique, and targeted exercises, supported where helpful by technology such as shockwave therapy and bioelectric therapy. The aim is to relieve symptoms while addressing the underlying causes, with a plan tailored to you.
Get emergency medical attention for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or sudden severe weakness in a leg. These can signal cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
Get a clear plan for your spinal stenosis
Book an assessment at either branch and get a tailored plan.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician about your individual condition.
Sources
- Back Pain — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Know Your Back — North American Spine Society
- Health Topics — NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Sciatica — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Sciatica — NHS inform (Scotland)
- Bones, Joints and Muscles — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine