The Prevalence of Directional Preference in the Lumbar Stenosis Population

A Single-center Observational Study Looking at the Prevalence of Directional Preference in the Lumbar Stenosis Population for Low Back Pain Patients

This will be a prospective cohort observational study observing patients with low back pain with leg pain who present for outpatient physical therapy care at Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Lake Success. Patients are eligible if they present with imaging of stenosis in their lumbar spine on MRI or CT Scan and note radicular leg symptoms with associated neurological deficits on the physical examination for at least 12 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Neurogenic claudication (pain in the buttock, thigh, or leg during ambulation) or radicular leg symptoms with associated neurological deficits on the physical examination for at least 12 weeks.
• Confirmatory cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrating the presence of either central or lateral lumbar spinal stenosis at one or more levels was required.
• Age >48 years old
• Willing and able to consent
• Scheduled to receive physical therapy that includes the collection of patients outcomes, functional tests, and may include the conduct of a two-stage treadmill test

Exclusion Criteria:

• Radiographic evidence of instability, degenerative spondylolisthesis, fracture, or scoliosis of more than 15°.
• Comorbid health conditions precluding surgical management, prior lumbar surgery, progressive neurological deficit, any inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or indication of a potential non-musculoskeletal spinal condition (e.g., active malignancy, infection, etc.)