Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal that may occur in any of the regions of the spine. This narrowing causes a restriction to the spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit

1. Aging
All the factors below may cause the spaces in the spine to narrow,
• Body’s ligaments can thicken (ligamentum flavum)
• Bone spurs develop on the bone and into the spinal canal
• Intervertebral discs may bulge or herniate into the canal
• Facet joints break down
• Compression fractures of the spine, which are common in osteoporosis
• Cysts form on the facet joints causing compression of the spinal sack of nerves (thecal sac)
2. Arthritis
Two types
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
3. Heredity
• Spinal canal is too small at birth
• Structural deformities of the vertebrae may cause narrowing of the spinal canal
4. Instability of the spine or spondylolisthesis
5. Trauma
• Accidents and injuries may dislocate the spine and the spinal canal or cause burst fractures that yield fragments of bone that go through the canal
6. Tumors of the spine
• Irregular growths of soft tissue will cause inflammation
• Growth of tissue into the canal pressing on nerves, the sac of nerves, or the spinal cord.

1. Common
• Standing discomfort (94%)
• Numbness (63%)
• Weakness (43%)
• Bilateral symptoms (68%)
• Discomfort above and below knee (78%)
• Buttock / Thigh only (15%)
• Below the knee (7%)
2. Neurological disorders
• Pinched nerve
• Intermittent neurogenic claudication
• Weakness
• Diffuse or radicular leg pain
• Paresthesis (bilaterally)
• Weakness heaviness in buttocks radiating into lower extremities with walking or prolonged standing.
• Symptoms occur with extension of spine and are relieved with spine flexion.
• Minimal to zero symptoms when seated or supine.

3. Other
• Fever
• Nocturnal pain
• Gait disturbance
• Structural deformity
• Unexplained weight loss
• Previous carcinoma
• Severe pain upon lying down
• progressive neurologic deficit
• degenerative disc or joint changes
• Narrowing of spinal canal, nerve root canal or intervertebral Canal Stenosis

• X-ray
• CT scan
• MRI
• EMG (Electromyography)
• NCV (Nerve Conduction Velocity)

• Ultrasonic diathermy
• Shortwave diathermy
• Heat/cold therapy
• TENS
• Low level laser therapy
• Intermittent traction
• Therapeutic exercise