New Research from Satterwhite 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 — could exercise actually cause more damage? Two new research papers published in 2026 offer genuine peace of mind, and they're well worth sharing with your chiropractor at Satterwhite Chiropractic as you work toward feeling better.
YES, YOU CAN EXERCISE WITH SEVERE STENOSIS
Published in Physical Therapy, a large retrospective study of 1,806 patients with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis tracked outcomes from an exercise-based rehabilitation program, and the findings challenge a long-held assumption. (1) The study found that patients improved significantly in pain, function, strength, disability, and medication use — and no meaningful difference emerged in how well participants responded to exercise based on how advanced their stenosis appeared on scans, with over 11% of participants able to discontinue narcotic pain medication entirely. In plain terms: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
FOR DISC PROTRUSION, TARGETED STABILIZATION WORK PAYS OFF
A randomized controlled trial published in the journal Health Science Reports followed 60 patients with a one-sided lumbar disc protrusion for eight weeks, comparing routine physiotherapy alone to standard physiotherapy paired with supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep trunk muscles. While both groups got better across pain, disability, and range of motion, the stabilization group's improvement was significantly larger — and imaging confirmed stronger activation of the deep core and multifidus muscles that help stabilize the lower spine. Just as promising: across the full study period of guided sessions, not a single participant had a decline in symptoms or a treatment-related injury, only a bit of early, temporary muscle soreness. (2)
TALK TO US AT YOUR NEXT VISIT
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the appropriate routine is specific to your imaging, your symptoms, and your goals — so before starting or changing an exercise routine, talk with your doctor of chiropractic at Satterwhite Chiropractic in Oxford, 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 shares the advantage of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
