Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Evidence-Based Update

Course overview

Lumbar spinal stenosis has emerged as one of the defining musculoskeletal conditions of our aging population. With approximately 103 million individuals affected worldwide and prevalence continuing to rise as demographics shift toward older age distributions, rehabilitation professionals across all practice settings encounter this condition with increasing frequency. As the leading indication for spinal surgery in adults over 65 years of age-with more than 450,000 lumbar decompression procedures performed annually in the United States alone-lumbar spinal stenosis represents both a significant clinical challenge and a substantial opportunity for rehabilitation professionals to impact patient outcomes through evidence-based conservative management. This continuing education course provides a comprehensive, evidence-based update on the assessment and rehabilitation management of lumbar spinal stenosis for physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and allied health professionals. The content synthesizes the most current research literature, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and clinical practice guidelines published between 2022 and 2025, ensuring that participants receive information that reflects the contemporary state of the science. The 45 peer-reviewed references supporting this course represent the highest quality evidence available, with emphasis on systematic reviews and meta-analyses that provide the strongest foundation for clinical decision-making.