Which activity is likely to worsen symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Prolonged walking is likely to worsen symptoms of spinal stenosis due to the specific nature of this condition, which involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to increased pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Walking for extended periods can exacerbate symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness, particularly in the lower extremities.

Spinal stenosis typically causes discomfort that can be relieved by sitting or bending forward, activities that can help alleviate nerve compression. In contrast, prolonged walking tends to aggravate spinal canal narrowing and the associated symptoms. This happens because walking extends the lumbar spine, which may increase pressure on the nerves that are already compromised by the narrowed space.

In contrast, flexion (bending forward) usually alleviates symptoms as it opens the spinal canal slightly, relieving pressure. Activities like sitting and riding a bicycle, while they may involve some pressure on the spine, generally do not cause the same level of symptom exacerbation as prolonged walking does. Thus, prolonged walking is clearly the activity that is most likely to worsen symptoms of spinal stenosis.