(801) 298-9190
Request Appointment
If your legs start aching after a few minutes of walking and feel better the moment you sit down or lean on a cart, this is likely what you are dealing with.
Seek emergency medical care first if you develop loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly progressing weakness or numbness in both legs. Those specific symptoms need to be evaluated urgently. Outside of those situations, stenosis is generally managed conservatively, and gentle chiropractic care is a well established part of that approach.
Your spinal cord and nerve roots travel through a canal formed by the vertebrae. Spinal stenosis means that canal has narrowed, leaving less room for the nerves inside it. Most of the time this develops gradually with age, as discs lose height, ligaments thicken, and arthritic change builds around the joints.
It happens most often in the lower back and the neck, and it becomes more common after about age fifty.
The most recognizable sign is pain, heaviness, or cramping in the legs that appears after walking a certain distance and eases when you sit down or bend forward. People often notice they can push a shopping cart much farther than they can walk without one, because leaning forward opens the canal slightly.
Other symptoms include numbness or tingling in the legs or feet, weakness, and a general sense of unsteadiness. Cervical stenosis can produce similar symptoms in the arms and hands.
Stenosis is a structural narrowing, so the honest framing is that we are working to reduce the irritation and improve function within it rather than reversing the narrowing itself. That distinction matters and we would rather be straight with you about it.
That said, a great deal can be done. Gentle, low force technique restores motion to restricted segments without adding stress. Decompression can reduce pressure through the affected area. Soft tissue work and therapy address the muscle guarding that develops around it. Positions and movements that bend you slightly forward tend to be well tolerated because they open the canal, and many patients see meaningful improvement in how far they can walk comfortably.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Eveline Onkels, DC and Dr. Michael Onkels, DC, Onkels Chiropractic, Bountiful, Utah. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an examination.
Chiropractic care does not reverse the narrowing itself, but it can meaningfully reduce symptoms and improve function. Gentle technique and decompression often improve walking tolerance and reduce the leg symptoms associated with stenosis.
With the right technique, yes. We use gentle, low force approaches for stenosis rather than forceful technique. Your doctor examines you thoroughly first and adapts treatment to your situation.
Bending forward slightly opens the spinal canal, which relieves pressure on the nerves. That is why sitting, leaning on a cart, or bending forward tends to bring quick relief, and it is one of the clearest signs pointing toward stenosis.
Many people manage stenosis for years with conservative care. Surgery is generally considered when symptoms are severe, progressive, or not responding. We will tell you honestly if your presentation warrants a surgical opinion.
Call us now or send a message. If you reach us after hours, we will get back to you the next business day.
Fill this out and we will contact you as soon as possible.