Lumbar Stenosis of the Aging Spine: Evaluation and Treatment According to the Evidence Based Medicine for the Improvement of the Quality of Life

Abstract

The lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a syndrome with a wide economic and social impact on the adult population. It is a particular form of narrowing of the lumbar vertebral canal or the intervertebral foramina which can compress the neural and vascular elements in the lumbar spine. It is a degenerative process which predominantly affects the geriatric population. The increase of the life expectancy has increased the health needs of this target of population. The (LSS) is a syndrome that can manifest itself with lower back pain and pain to the inferior limbs, and functional disabilities which affects mobility and motor skills. Given the complexity of the clinical presentation, an accurate clinicalfunctional evaluation is needed that includes: The combination of clinical signs from the patient's history, a physical evaluation and diagnostic imaging, excluding possible red flags. In this respect, the use of Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI) might be useful in the evaluation and treatment process, enhancing the effectiveness and documenting the benefits of it. The aim of this work is to propose an integrated evidence-based approach that may be useful for improving the quality of life of LSS patients.

The use of support ultrasound as a working tool for the physiotherapist a review of the literature

“…Moreover, RUSI seems to be reliable also in specific cases of motor control disorders, observing in real time the behaviour of the musculature that stabilizes the scapula through ultrasound feedback during the activation of the stabilizing muscles of the shoulder. Collebrusco L. et al (2017)32 Further studies are needed to validate a standardized diagnostic procedure and the conservative rehabilitation program for lumbar spinal stenosis, the treatment can be aided by ultrasound feedback with RUSI. Doorbar-Baptist S. et al (2017)33 RUSI can be used reliably to evaluate pelvic floor motor control in men with prostate cancer.…”