Nov 03
New Hope for Complex Spine Cases: Gentle Chiropractic Care Shows Promise for Tandem Spinal Stenosis

New Hope for Complex Spine Cases: Gentle Chiropractic Care Shows Promise for Tandem Spinal Stenosis

Here’s an encouraging development in spine care: tandem spinal stenosis—where narrowing occurs at multiple spots along the spine—has traditionally been a tricky condition to treat. Back in 2017, Overley and his team published an important systematic review that really highlighted just how complex this condition can be, with patients often experiencing overlapping symptoms that make diagnosis and treatment planning particularly challenging. (1) Fast forward to 2025, and we now have some encouraging news! McKee, Cox, and Olding recently published a case report showing that Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction—a gentle, non-invasive chiropractic approach—successfully managed a patient with tandem spinal stenosis. (2) This is particularly exciting because it demonstrates that conservative care options like our gentle chiropractic treatment can offer real relief for some patients dealing with this complicated condition, potentially helping them avoid more aggressive interventions. It’s a great reminder that our personalized, non-surgical approaches to spine care deserve a place at the treatment table! (Pun intended!) We’re ready to help!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Cameron McConville on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the effectiveness of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for spinal stenosis.

TIP OF THE MONTH: Calm Your Mind, Heal Your Back

If you’re dealing with chronic back pain, consider adding some peaceful movement to your healing routine. Recent research continues to support what many have experienced firsthand—practices like meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong can be powerful allies in managing back pain. A 2025 clinical guideline summary by Silva and colleagues highlights the important role these integrative and complementary approaches play in chronic pain management, while Yang and team’s recent study on tai chi and qigong for back pain revealed encouraging results, with participants reporting meaningful improvements in their pain levels and overall well-being. (3,4) These gentle practices work by combining mindful movement, breathing techniques, and relaxation to help reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and calm the nervous system. Best of all, they’re low-impact and can be adapted to your current fitness level. This month, why not explore one of these calming activities? Even just 10-15 minutes a day of gentle, mindful movement may help you find relief while bringing more peace and balance to your daily routine.

Be sure you have your next appointment scheduled! 
We look forward to seeing you.

References for HEALTHY NEWS – October 2025

  1. Overley SC, Kim JS, Gogel BA, Merrill RK, Hecht AC. Tandem Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review. JBJS Rev. 2017 Sep;5(9):e2. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.17.00007. PMID: 28872572.
  2. McKee N, Cox J, Olding K. Chiropractic Management using Cox Technic Flexion Distraction for a Patient With Tandem Spinal Stenosis. J of Chiorpractic Medicine. Online. In Press. October 9, 2025.
  3. Silva MT, Amado DM, Rocha PRS, Barreto JOM. Integrative and Complementary Health Practices for Chronic Pain: summary of clinical guideline recommendations. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2025 Aug 4;34:e20240771. doi: 10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240771.en. PMID: 40767734; PMCID: PMC12342850.
  4. Yang Y, Caldwell K, Schlagal RC, DeCelle S, Simmons S 3rd, Yang L, Abduljawad S, Ayar J, Singh JR, Sheeler R, Flynn PR, Knapp KA, Härtl R. “No Pain, More Gain”: Subjective Responses to a T’ai Chi and Qigong Program For Back Pain. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2025 Sep 30;14:27536130251384679. doi: 10.1177/27536130251384679. PMID: 41041080; PMCID: PMC12484913.