{"id":11490,"date":"2026-09-29T05:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T05:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/?p=11490"},"modified":"2026-11-13T05:42:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T05:42:20","slug":"spinal-canal-stenosis-symptoms-exercises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/spinalkanalstenose-symptome-uebungen\/","title":{"rendered":"Spinal canal stenosis: When walking suddenly becomes a torture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-11490\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-11490-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-11490-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-11490-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Spinal canal stenosis<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2 data-path-to-node=\"40\"><strong>What is a spinal canal stenosis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40\">It is a gradual process that severely restricts everyday life: you go for a walk, but after a few hundred meters your legs become heavy, tingly or painful. Only when you sit down or lean on the shopping cart while shopping does the pain subside.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"41\">This phenomenon, often referred to as <b data-path-to-node=\"41\" data-index-in-node=\"25\">Posterior shoulder disease<\/b> This is the classic guiding symptom of a <b data-path-to-node=\"41\" data-index-in-node=\"108\">Spinal canal stenosis<\/b>. But what exactly happens in your body during this process, and why does prevention lead to such rapid relief?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-11490-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-11490-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-11490-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">The bony bottleneck in the back - the spinal canal<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>The bony blockage in the back<\/h2>\n<p>In our spinal column, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rheumaliga.ch\/glossar\/spinalkanal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Spinal canal<\/a> (Cervical canal), which protects the sensitive spinal cord and the exiting nerves. Over the years (usually starting at the age of 60), due to wear and tear, arthritis in the small vertebrae or thickened ligaments, this canal can become increasingly narrower.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-8118\" src=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Befund_Wirbels\u00e4ule_erkl\u00e4ren_Physio_Philipp_Schr\u00f6der-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal canal stenosis: Physiotherapist explains the lumbar spine on a model\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you stand or walk upright, the lumbar spine undergoes a slight extension (hollow vertebra). This further narrows the canal anatomically \u2013 the nerves are pinched. However, if you bend forward, the spinal canal widens like a harmonica. The nerves have again room to move, and the pain subsides.<\/p>\n<h2>Typical signs of spinal canal stenosis<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Heavy, tired or tingling legs after a certain distance traveled<\/li>\n<li>Improvement as soon as you sit down, bend forward, or lean back<\/li>\n<li>Going uphill or cycling is often easier than going downhill or standing for long periods of time.<\/li>\n<li>Back pain that can radiate to the buttocks and legs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>This is how physiotherapy helps: creating space and optimizing the static<\/h2>\n<p>We cannot magically remove the bony narrowing itself, but we can change the pelvic anatomy and the trunk musculature so that your nervous system can recover. We focus on targeted <b>Spinal canal stenosis exercises<\/b>, These movements involve flexion and allow for more space. At the same time, it is important to consider the surrounding joints: Often, the hip muscles are shortened, which pulls the pelvis forward and forces you into a squatting position. By strengthening the deep abdominal muscles and mobilizing the hip, we support a relieving posture \u2013 for longer, pain-free walking.<\/p>\n<p>Another focus is endurance training in a relaxed position, for example on the exercise bike. This way you stay active without stressing your nerves. With targeted <a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/fall-prevention-balance-training-zurich\/\">Balance training<\/a> You also gain extra security when walking.<\/p>\n<h2>Spinal canal stenosis: What the studies show<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Physiotherapy as the first choice:<\/strong> Current guidelines recommend first non-surgical treatment with manual therapy, training, and education in the case of spinal canal stenosis (Ammendolia 2025).<\/li>\n<li><strong>As effective as an operation:<\/strong> In a randomized study involving surgically eligible patients, a physiotherapy program achieved similar results after two years as the surgery (Delitto 2015). A Japanese study reached the same conclusion for mild to moderate stenosis (Minetama 2022).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Less side effects:<\/strong> A Cochrane review could not say for certain whether surgery or conservative treatment is better \u2013 but after operations, 10\u201324% of patients experienced complications, whereas no complications were reported with conservative treatment (Zaina 2016).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Being cared for is better than being alone:<\/strong> In-home supervised physiotherapy significantly improved walking distance, pain, and function in the short term compared to exercises performed at home alone (Minetama 2019).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hands plus training:<\/strong> Manual therapy combined with individual training provided more immediate results than purely medical care or group training; in the long term, all groups improved in walking ability (Schneider 2019).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Important: The decision to have an operation or not is made together with your doctor \u2013 physiotherapy is a well-documented first step.<\/p>\n<h2>Practical tips for everyday life to increase your walking distance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><b>The package (relief position):<\/b> Lie on your back and gently pull both knees to your chest with your hands. Make yourself small like a small package. Hold this position for 30\u201360 seconds. This widens the spinal canal and relieves the nerves.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><b>Pelvic tilts while standing:<\/b> If your legs become heavy when you walk, stop. Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles and tilt your pelvis so that the lower back becomes completely flat (loosening the sacrum). Breathe deeply before continuing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><b>Plan for breaks:<\/b> When you go for walks, consciously set aside seats instead of walking for as long as the discomfort gets severe. This way, you can gradually increase your walking distance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When you should have a quick medical check-up<\/h2>\n<p>Seek immediate medical attention if new paralysis or increasing weakness in the legs occurs, if numbness in the genital or groin area develops, or if you notice problems urinating or defecating. These signs require immediate evaluation.<\/p>\n<h2>Staying mobile in old age \u2013 in Z\u00fcrich Wipkingen<\/h2>\n<p>Do not let your range of motion become smaller and smaller. The team of <b>Physiotherapy Waidfuss<\/b> we will create a customized training program with you to help you increase your walking distance again. You can also read more about this under <a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/back-pain-in-old-age-zurich\/\">Back pain in old age<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/physiotherapy-for-seniors\/\">Physiotherapy for senior women and men<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The practice at H\u00f6nggerstrasse 118 can be reached directly from the front door by tram 50 (stop Waidfussweg); two parking spaces are available in front of the entrance. Call us on <a href=\"tel:+41445859949\">044 585 99 49<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tbooking.ch\/de\/physiotherapie-waidfuss\/2047-2175\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Book your appointment directly online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40691793\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Ammendolia C. Effective non-operative treatments and practical management strategies for older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis. Chiropr Man Therap 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25844995\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Delitto A et al. Surgery versus nonsurgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2015<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35820887\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Minetama M et al. Supervised physical therapy versus surgery for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26824399\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Zaina F et al. Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. Cochrane 2016<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30986577\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Minetama M et al. Supervision of physical therapy vs. home exercise for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized controlled trial. Spine J 2019<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30646197\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Schneider MJ et al. Comparative clinical effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment methods in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open 2019<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-11490-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-11490-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-11490-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_qt_recent_posts_block widget_post_block panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"news-posts-block\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-md-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"news-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/eingeklemmter-nerv\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-6-360x180.jpg\" class=\"attachment-physio-qt-news-s size-physio-qt-news-s\" alt=\"Nerve pinched in the neck: Woman clings to the painful neck; painful area marked in red\" srcset=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-6-360x180.jpg 360w, https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-6-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 781px) 360px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"news-post--title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/eingeklemmter-nerv\/\">Trapped nerve: Symptoms, duration, and what really helps<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t                        Stinging, burning or tingling? What lies behind a pinched nerve, how long it takes and what really affects you...\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                \t\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t                    \t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/eingeklemmter-nerv\/\" class=\"text-link\">Read more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-md-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"news-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/symphysenschmerzen-schwangerschaft\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/physiotherapie-schwangerschaft-zuerich-wipkingen-360x180.jpg\" class=\"attachment-physio-qt-news-s size-physio-qt-news-s\" alt=\"Physiotherapy during pregnancy: Treatment of a pregnant woman in a supine position at Physio Waidfuss Z\u00fcrich Wipkingen\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 781px) 360px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"news-post--title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/symphysenschmerzen-schwangerschaft\/\">Symphysis pain during pregnancy: What really helps?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t                        Symphysis pain during pregnancy affects many women unexpectedly: a stabbing pain in the front of the thigh\u2026\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                \t\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t                    \t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/symphysenschmerzen-schwangerschaft\/\" class=\"text-link\">Read more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-md-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"news-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/spinalkanalstenose-symptome-uebungen\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/iStock-1029339934-360x180.jpg\" class=\"attachment-physio-qt-news-s size-physio-qt-news-s\" alt=\"back pain in old age Zurich\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 781px) 360px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"news-post--title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/spinalkanalstenose-symptome-uebungen\/\">Spinal canal stenosis: When walking suddenly becomes a torture<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t                        What is a spinal canal stenosis? It is a gradual process that severely restricts everyday life: they make you\u2026\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                \t\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t                    \t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/spinalkanalstenose-symptome-uebungen\/\" class=\"text-link\">Read more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-md-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"news-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/rueckenschmerzen-schwangerschaft-zuerich\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/andrew-seaman-8n02UpJ170E-unsplash-360x180.jpg\" class=\"attachment-physio-qt-news-s size-physio-qt-news-s\" alt=\"Pregnancy\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 781px) 360px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"news-post--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"news-post--title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/rueckenschmerzen-schwangerschaft-zuerich\/\">Back pain during pregnancy in Zurich | Physio Waidfuss<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t                        Back pain during pregnancy: This is how physiotherapy in Wipkingen can help you\u2026\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t                \t\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t                    \t<a href=\"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/rueckenschmerzen-schwangerschaft-zuerich\/\" class=\"text-link\">Read more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Was ist eine Spinalkanalstenose? Es ist ein schleichender Prozess, der den Alltag massiv einschr\u00e4nkt: Sie machen einen Spaziergang, doch nach wenigen hundert Metern werden die Beine bleischwer, kribbeln oder schmerzen. Erst wenn Sie sich setzen oder sich beim Einkaufen auf den Einkaufswagen st\u00fctzen, l\u00e4sst der Schmerz nach. Dieses Ph\u00e4nomen, oft als Schaufensterkrankheit des R\u00fcckens bezeichnet, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":11606,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,68,71,1,67],"tags":[196],"class_list":["post-11490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-muskelschmerzen","category-physiotherapiehoengg","category-physiotherapie-wipkingen","category-physiotherapie-zuerich","category-rueckenschmerzen","tag-spinalkanalstenose"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11490"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12861,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11490\/revisions\/12861"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/physio-waidfuss.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}