The human spine has 24 vertebrae, which are divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae. There are 7 cervical vertebrae; 12 thoracic vertebrae; 5 lumbar vertebrae; 5 sacral vertebrae in early childhood, which are combined into one sacral bone in adulthood; 3~4 caudal vertebrae in early childhood, which are combined into one caudal bone in adulthood. The normal physiological curvature of the cervical and lumbar spine relies on muscle ligament support to maintain balance. Due to the proliferation of the spinal canal contents of the lumbar spine, which causes compression of the cauda equina nerve of the spinal cord, it is medically known as spinal stenosis, which is a very common disease of the elderly. How does spinal stenosis occur? Long-term chronic strain leads to disturbed vertebral curvature due to unbalanced pulling forces on muscle ligaments. As a result, the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae protrude into the spinal canal with the displaced vertebrae, while the posterior longitudinal ligaments at the posterior edge of the vertebrae thicken and the volume of the spinal canal decreases, and the yellow ligaments between the vertebral plates that hold the vertebrae together also thicken due to the long-term vertebral curve variation, resulting in a narrowing of the spinal canal due to “front-to-back pinching. Symptoms of spinal stenosis The earliest symptoms of spinal stenosis are walking weakness in both lower extremities, unstable gait or back and leg pain when walking a short distance, but after sitting down and resting a little, the pain is relieved and you can walk, medically known as “intermittent claudication”. When you find that the lower extremities are cold, weak, unstable gait, intermittent claudication, or frequent urination, bowel weakness, you should pay attention to whether your lumbar curve has problems. If the lumbar curve has increased, there is paralysis or even scurrying pain in both lower limbs when you lean back. The lumbar curve becomes straight or bending is difficult, and there is paralysis or tingling pain in both lower limbs when bending hard. Spinal stenosis cannot be clearly diagnosed by x-ray alone, and CT and MRI are required for definitive diagnosis if necessary. If spinal stenosis is not treated early, it can gradually lead to weakness or loss of control of bowel movements, inability to walk with both lower limbs, and even paralysis, leading to a life in a wheelchair. As you can see, spinal stenosis is a serious threat to the health of the elderly. Maintaining the normal curvature of the lumbar spine is the key to preventing spinal stenosis. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis must pay attention to functional rehabilitation exercises in general, which can effectively prevent muscle atrophy caused by patients’ prolonged bed rest. So, what are the exercise methods for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis? 1, swallow point water back extension exercise patient prone position, so that the abdomen on the bed, limbs, head raised like a swallow, exercise purposes with the arch bridge type. 2, side-lying pear-shaped muscle stretching exercise patient lying on his side, the upper leg raised, lift the leg should try to make the angle between the two legs at right angles, alternating between the two legs. This method can make the lower extremity abductor muscle group and the hip get exercise. 3, supine arch bridge back extension exercise including three-point, five-point: the patient lies supine on the bed, the palms of the feet, both elbows, back of the occiput on the bed, calves and bed vertical force, so that the rest of the body from the bed arch like an arch bridge. This method can make both sides of the spine lumbar back muscles are exercised. The lumbar back muscles are well-developed and balanced, and can protect the spine from squeezing the intervertebral discs when the force is applied. 4, straight leg raise exercise mainly exercise hamstrings and quadriceps. The patient lies flat on the bed, the legs are raised and lowered alternately, repeatedly, and the lower limbs should be raised at right angles to the body as far as possible. The functional exercise of lumbar spinal stenosis should follow the principles of slow first and then fast, small amplitude first and then large amplitude, local first and then whole, light first and then heavy, step by step, and persistent, in order to help the recovery of the disease.