Exercise Therapy

The Bottom Line

Exercise therapy is effective for reducing pain, improving physical function, and enhancing quality of life in lumbar spinal stenosis.

The 2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Japanese Orthopaedic Association state:

"Exercise therapy supervised by a specialist is more effective than self-guided exercise and is recommended for all but the most severe cases."

Research has shown that for mild to moderate stenosis, exercise therapy can achieve results comparable to surgery after two years.

Exercise therapy carries low risk and low cost. In the guideline evaluation, it received positive ratings across all dimensions — the balance of benefits and harms, patient values, and cost-effectiveness (consensus rate 92%).

Older patients tend to prefer exercise therapy:

According to guideline surveys, older patients are more likely to recognize the benefits of exercise therapy and prefer conservative treatment. The low risk and low cost are key reasons.