New Research from Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC: 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 — could exercise actually cause more damage? A pair of studies published in 2026 offer solid, evidence-based reassurance, and they're definitely worth discussing with your chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC as you plan your recovery.
SEVERE STENOSIS ON YOUR SCAN? EXERCISE STILL WORKS
A sizable retrospective study following 1,806 patients with mild, moderate, and severe lumbar spinal stenosis through an exercise-based rehabilitation program was published in Physical Therapy, and its findings push back on a long-held assumption. (1) Researchers found that participants improved significantly in pain levels, functional disability, strength, and medication use — and researchers found no meaningful difference in how well participants responded to exercise based on how advanced their stenosis appeared on scans, with more than 1 in 10 participants able to discontinue narcotic pain medication entirely. In simple terms: even a "severe" stenosis diagnosis doesn't rule out benefiting from exercise.
FOR DISC PROTRUSION, TARGETED STABILIZATION WORK PAYS OFF
A controlled clinical trial published in Health Science Reports followed sixty patients with a unilateral lumbar disc protrusion for 8 weeks, comparing standard physiotherapy on its own to routine physiotherapy combined with supervised stabilization training targeting the deep stabilizing muscles of the trunk. Both groups improved in pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion, but the stabilization group improved significantly more — and ultrasound scans revealed greater activation of the deep abdominal and multifidus muscles that help stabilize the lower spine. Just as encouraging: across eight weeks of supervised exercise, not a single participant had a worsening of symptoms or a exercise-related injury, only a bit of early, temporary muscle soreness. (2)
LET’S TALK AT YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
These findings don't mean every exercise is right for every spine, and the right program is shaped by your particular imaging, symptoms, and goals — so before starting or changing an exercise routine, talk with your chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC in La Grande, who can help you move confidently, not fearfully, toward relief.
Check out this podcast with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the benefit of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.
