Boot Camp Program For Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Fairview Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Clinic is excited to now offer the Spinal Stenosis Boot Camp program. Dr.Christopher Tousignant and Dr. Lauren Stewart have been certified to provide this program to the Burlington community.  Until recently, patients wishing to benefit from the boot camp program were referred to the clinic located at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

The boot camp program was developed at Mount Sinai Hospital by Dr. Carlo Ammendolia D.C, PhD.

Dr. Ammendolia is the Director of the Chiropractic Spine Clinic and Spinal Stenosis Program at the Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases located at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He is also the founder of Spinemobility. Dr. Ammendolia and his research team have developed a new treatment approach with the focus of improving standing and walking ability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

The overall goal of the program is to improve the quality of life and maintain independence among the growing number of people who have lumbar spinal stenosis.

The program combines manual therapy, special exercises, instruction on body re-positioning techniques and self-management strategies. Manual therapy uses a special table that helps align the spine to maximize the openings for the spinal nerves.

Special exercises help restore weak back and leg muscles and when combined with body alignment strategies, help to reduce the pressure on the compressed nerves when standing and walking. It is known that changing body alignment can reduce symptoms. LSS is a chronic problem and learning how to live more effectively with it using self-management strategies allows you to become more in control and therefore better able to better cope with lumbar spinal stenosis.

 

 

 

 

What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a leading cause of pain, disability and loss of independence in older adults. The number of people who will develop this condition is expected to grow dramatically in the next 20 years.

It is usually caused by age-related arthritic narrowing of the spinalcanals where nerves exit the spinetravelling to the lower back and legs.

This narrowing can cause compression of the spinal nerves leading to low back and leg pain,
numbness, weakness, and reduced ability to stand and walk.

What are the Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Compression of the spinal nerves due to degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis can cause pain, burning, numbness, tingling and weakness of the legs, buttock and lower back.

The symptoms usually are brought on from standing and walking because the standing and walking posture further narrows the spinal canals.

People with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis can only stand or walk for short periods of time, which significantly impacts their quality of life. Many are compelled to live a more sedentary lifestyle, which leads to further decline in their overall health.

Program Breakdown

Coaching on Behavioural Change

 

 

Specific strategies for behavioural change and self-management for sustainable benefit

Targeted Manual Therapy

 

 

Condition-specific techniques to maximize spinal and neural mobility

Specific Exercises and Strength Training

 

Targeted home exercises to maximize aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility

Body Repositioning and Self Monitoring

 

Postural techniques to maximize standing, walking and functional abilities

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Studies from the University of Toronto and the University of Pittsburgh have demonstrated compelling evidence in support of this novel non-surgical approach to the treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. A summary of the research and references can be found here.

To learn more about Dr. Carlo Ammendolia and the Spinal Stenosis Boot Camp Program, please visit Spinemobility.