Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Chiropractor Adelaide

Lumbar spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve-root openings in the lower back, typically from degenerative changes such as disc height loss, facet joint thickening, or ligamentum flavum thickening.

It is most common in adults aged 60 and older.

It classically presents as neurogenic claudication: leg pain, numbness, or weakness that worsens with walking or standing upright, and eases with leaning forward (the shopping-cart sign), sitting, or walking uphill.

A careful bedside assessment, alongside any existing imaging, may help clarify whether stenosis is the dominant source.

Disc-referred pain typically radiates below the knee along a one-sided dermatomal line and flares with forward bending or sitting.

Stenosis usually produces bilateral leg symptoms that flare with walking or standing and ease with flexion (leaning on a trolley).

Vascular claudication also flares with walking but eases with any rest, regardless of posture, and may involve reduced ankle pulses or an abnormal ankle-brachial index.

Research suggests a walking-tolerance history, the shopping-cart sign, and a neurological screen may help distinguish the three. A GP review is appropriate if vascular contribution is suspected.

Research suggests multimodal conservative care, combining manual therapy with flexion-biased exercise and walking rehabilitation, may produce short-term functional improvement for adults with neurogenic claudication (Ammendolia 2022; Schneider 2019; Whitman 2006).

At Stapleton Chiropractic, care may include low-force Activator or drop-piece options, soft-tissue work, and graded walking and flexion-biased movement guidance.

Conservative chiropractic is positioned as supportive care alongside your GP and, where appropriate, a spine surgeon or pain clinic, not as a replacement. Individual responses vary, and progress is reviewed at each visit.

Not always. Research suggests that for adults with surgical-candidate lumbar spinal stenosis, two-year functional outcomes may be comparable between a structured non-surgical program and decompressive surgery (Delitto 2015).

A trial of conservative care is often a reasonable first step, provided there are no red-flag features.

Surgical consultation is appropriate if you have progressive neurological deficit, significant functional limitation unresponsive to conservative care, or red-flag features.

The decision is always yours, and a conversation with your GP, chiropractor, and surgeon together usually serves you best.

Your first visit with Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) involves a history-taking conversation about your walking tolerance, what aggravates and eases symptoms, any red-flag features, and any prior imaging.

Physical examination includes a neurogenic claudication screen (walking-tolerance history, shopping-cart sign, flexion-extension response), a neurological screen, and bedside tests to distinguish stenosis from disc, vascular, and hip sources.

If care is appropriate, options are explained including Activator, drop-piece, soft-tissue work, and flexion-biased movement guidance. The technique choice is yours. Progress is reviewed at each visit.

The initial consultation at Stapleton Chiropractic is $69, and standard follow-up consultations are $60. There are no lock-in plans.

All major health funds are accepted, so you may claim on the spot if your health fund supports on-site claiming. Please bring your health fund card, a Medicare card, and any prior imaging or referral letters to your first visit.

If you have questions about cost or about whether chiropractic is appropriate in your case before booking, please phone the practice on (08) 8297 5277.

No, chiropractic in Australia is a primary-contact profession, so you can book directly without a GP referral.

For lumbar spinal stenosis specifically, we usually prefer that you have already spoken to your GP, because imaging and review of any red-flag features usually happen through that pathway.

If you have a chronic disease management plan or an EPC referral from your GP, chiropractic may be included. Please phone (08) 8297 5277 if you are unsure whether a prior referral is relevant in your case.

Please present to your nearest emergency department, or phone 000, if you have saddle anaesthesia (groin or inner-thigh numbness), new bowel or bladder change, progressive bilateral leg weakness, or new loss of sexual function.

These features may indicate cauda equina syndrome, a surgical emergency.

Please also see your GP promptly for progressive one-sided leg weakness, fever alongside back pain, unexplained weight loss, recent significant trauma, a history of cancer, or severe night pain.

Conservative chiropractic can be considered afterwards if it remains appropriate.