Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation- Lumbar Stenosis Study

This study aims to assess the effect of chiropractic distraction manipulation in reducing postural sway and improving performance-based mobility and disability in patients with the clinical diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis. This study will identify if distraction spinal manipulation will reduce postural sway center of pressure (COP) movements as determined by a force plate, if distraction spinal manipulation will improve simple measures of performance-based mobility and if distraction spinal manipulation will improve perception of balance confidence and will reduce self-rated stenosis associated disability.

Inclusion criteria

• Age greater than 48 years old
• Patient has leg or buttock pain while walking
• Patient feels relief of symptoms with bending (flexing) forward
• Patient feels relief when using a shopping cart of bicycle
• Patient has motor or sensory disturbance while walking
• Patient has normal and symmetrical foot pulses
• Patient has lower extremity weakness
• Patient has low back pain
• Duration of symptoms and signs for more than 1 month
• Able to stand and walk without assistive devices for at least 20 minutes
• Able to give written informed consent and complete interviews and questionnaires in English

Exclusion criteria

• Complicated spinal pain due to fracture, tumor, infection, or severe spondyloarthropathy
• Has other severe co-morbidities, including progressive neurological deficit
• Other serious pathologies of the locomotor system
• No correspondence availability through email
• Inability to read/ comprehend English
• Compensation or seeking compensation from a third-party liability or workers' compensation
• Previous spinal manipulation within the past month