New Research from Most Chiropractic Clinic: Exercise Helps Spinal Stenosis Patients, Regardless of Severity
Hearing a diagnosis of spinal stenosis or a disc protrusion often makes exercise feel intimidating — could exercise actually cause more damage? A pair of studies published in early 2026 offer genuine peace of mind, and they're worth discussing with your chiropractor at Most Chiropractic Clinic as you work toward feeling better.
A "SEVERE" SCAN DOESN'T MEAN EXERCISE WON'T HELP
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) Researchers found that patients improved significantly in pain, function, strength, disability, and medication use — and researchers found no meaningful difference in how well participants responded to exercise based on how severe their stenosis looked on imaging, with more than 1 in 10 participants able to stop using narcotic pain medication altogether. In plain terms: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
DISC PROTRUSION PATIENTS SEE REAL GAINS FROM STABILIZATION EXERCISE
A randomized controlled trial published in Health Science Reports followed sixty patients with a single-sided lumbar disc protrusion for 8 weeks, comparing standard physiotherapy on its own to routine physiotherapy plus supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep trunk muscles. Both groups improved in pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion, but the stabilization group improved significantly more — and ultrasound imaging showed better engagement of the deep abdominal and multifidus muscles that help stabilize the lower spine. Just as encouraging: across eight weeks of supervised exercise, no participant experienced a decline in symptoms or a injury tied to the program, only a bit of early, temporary muscle soreness. (2)
ASK US ABOUT YOUR EXERCISE PLAN
Neither study is a green light for jumping into just any workout, and the appropriate routine is tailored to your own imaging, symptoms, and goals — so before starting or changing an exercise routine, talk with your treating chiropractor at Most Chiropractic Clinic in Murfreesboro, who can help you move confidently, not fearfully, toward relief.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the benefit of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
