New Research from Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn: 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 — what if the wrong movement makes things worse? Two new research papers published in early 2026 offer real reassurance, and they're definitely worth sharing with your chiropractor at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn as you plan your recovery.
A "SEVERE" SCAN DOESN'T MEAN EXERCISE WON'T HELP
A large retrospective study of 1,806 patients published in Physical Therapy looked at people with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis who completed an exercise-based rehabilitation program, and the results push back on a widespread assumption. (1) Investigators reported that study participants 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 more than one in ten patients able to discontinue narcotic pain medication entirely. In other words: a severe-looking scan doesn't mean exercise is off the table.
DISC PROTRUSION PATIENTS SEE REAL GAINS FROM STABILIZATION EXERCISE
A randomized clinical trial published in Health Science Reports followed 60 patients with a one-sided lumbar disc protrusion for an eight-week period, comparing standard physiotherapy on its own to routine physiotherapy plus supervised stabilization exercises targeting the deep trunk muscles. Pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion improved in both groups, though the stabilization group saw significantly greater gains — and ultrasound scans revealed greater performance in the deep abdominal muscles and multifidus that help support the low back. Just as reassuring: across the eight-week trial of supervised training, no participant experienced a symptom flare-up or a injury tied to the program, only a bit of early, temporary muscle soreness. (2)
ASK US ABOUT YOUR EXERCISE PLAN
This research isn't permission to skip professional guidance, and the appropriate routine is shaped by your particular imaging, symptoms, and goals — so prior to starting or modifying your exercise routine, talk with your doctor of chiropractic at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn in Ashburn and Herndon, who can help you approach relief with confidence rather than fear.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he details the benefit of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
