Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Bakersfield

Yes, physical therapy can help spinal stenosis. An exercise-based program is a common first treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis, and many people can walk and stand longer with less leg pain after it. Exercise doesn’t widen the spinal canal, but it can change how well your body copes with the narrowing. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.

Does this sound like you?

What spinal stenosis is

Spinal stenosis means the spaces the nerves travel through in your low back have narrowed. It usually comes from age-related changes like arthritis in the spine joints, thickened ligaments and disc bulges, and it is most common after age 50.

Standing up straight and leaning back make these spaces a little smaller, and bending forward opens them up. That is why sitting down or leaning on a shopping cart often brings quick relief, sometimes called the “shopping cart sign.” Narrowing also shows up on many scans of people who feel fine, so your symptoms and how far you can walk guide treatment more than the scan does.

Is it stenosis or something else?

Leg pain with walking has a few possible causes, so a careful check matters:

• Poor circulation in the legs (peripheral artery disease) can also cause calf pain with walking. It usually eases when you simply stop and stand still, while stenosis usually needs sitting or bending forward.
• Hip arthritis can cause groin and thigh pain with walking. See our hip pain guide.
• A disc problem often hurts more with sitting, the opposite of stenosis. See our sciatica and back pain guide.

How physical therapy helps

Treatment focuses on what you can do, not just on the narrowing. That includes positions and exercises that gently open space for the nerves, strength for your hips, legs and trunk, hands-on care for a stiff back and hips, and a walking plan that builds distance step by step with planned rest breaks. Many people find a stationary bike a comfortable way to stay fit while walking improves. Because leg symptoms can make you less steady, balance work is often part of the plan too. See balance and fall prevention.

What treatment at ARI looks like

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor promptly if you have:

• Numbness in the groin, buttocks or inner thighs, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome: get emergency care
• Leg weakness that is getting worse, or your foot catching or slapping when you walk
• Clumsy hands, trouble with buttons, or a change in your balance or walking that isn’t just leg pain, which can mean narrowing in the neck
• Calf pain with walking that eases as soon as you stand still, cold or discolored feet, or sores on the feet that won’t heal, which can be a circulation problem
• Back pain with fever, a history of cancer, or weight loss you can’t explain
• Back pain after a fall, especially if you have osteoporosis

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Spinal stenosis FAQs

Common questions

• Why Does My Back Hurt After Standing for a Long Time?

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026