- Maintain an ideal weight to avoid placing extra compressive stress on the spinal bones.
- Use good body mechanics when lifting.
- Exercise regularly. Developing core strength will help support your back during activities of daily living. Pilates is a good core strength workout - by placing emphasis on the eccentric phase of muscle contraction, it provides traction to the spine, having a space increasing effect.
Sources
1. American Association of Neurological Surgeons "Your Aging Back: Understanding Lumbar Spinal Stenosis" Medem Medical Library. 2000. http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ40VRYX6C&sub_cat=178 (December 18, 2005)
2. The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center. "Spinal Stenosis". The Cleveland Clinic. 1995-2005. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3600/3698.asp?index=12096 (December 18, 2005)
3. The Mayo Clinic Tools for Healthier Lives - Pain. "Spinal Stenosis". The Mayo Clinic. April 19, 2004. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/spinal-stenosis/DS00515/DSECTION=1 (December 18, 2004)
4. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - Health Topics. "What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public" The National Institutes of Health. September 2005. http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/spinalstenosis/ff_spinal_stenosis.htm
