New Research from Layden Chiropractic: Exercise Helps Spinal Stenosis Patients, Regardless of Severity
If you've been told you have spinal stenosis or a disc protrusion, it's natural to feel wary of exercise — won't moving the wrong way make things worse? A pair of studies published in early 2026 offer real reassurance, and they're definitely worth bringing up with your chiropractor at Layden Chiropractic as you plan your recovery.
YES, YOU CAN EXERCISE WITH SEVERE STENOSIS
A sizable retrospective study following 1,806 patients with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis through an exercise-based rehabilitation program was published in Physical Therapy, and its findings push back on a common assumption. (1) Investigators reported that patients improved significantly in pain, disability, strength, medication use, and function — and no meaningful difference emerged in how well participants responded to exercise based on how severe the stenosis appeared radiographically, with more than one in ten patients able to stop using narcotic pain medication altogether. In other words: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
FOR DISC PROTRUSION, TARGETED STABILIZATION WORK PAYS OFF
A randomized clinical trial published in Health Science Reports followed 60 patients with a unilateral lumbar disc protrusion for an eight-week period, comparing routine physiotherapy by itself to routine physiotherapy plus supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep stabilizing muscles of the trunk. Both groups improved in pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion, but the stabilization group improved significantly more — and ultrasound scans revealed stronger performance in the deep core and multifidus muscles that help support the low back. Just as reassuring: across eight weeks of supervised training, no participant experienced a decline in symptoms or a treatment-related injury, only some mild, short-lived muscle soreness early on. (2)
TALK TO US AT YOUR NEXT VISIT
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the right program is specific to your imaging, your symptoms, and your goals — so prior to starting or modifying your exercise routine, talk with your treating chiropractor at Layden Chiropractic in Plainville, who can help you move toward relief with confidence instead of fear.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he details the advantage of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
