Home | Diagnosis tool | Exercise related weakness of back or legs

Exercise related weakness of back or legs

Symptoms of exercise related weakness of back or legs

Weakness of buttock / thigh / shin / calf, aggravated by exercise / walking / twisting. Slow but accelerating onset often associated with easement stooping or crouching
Weakness ± wasting of both buttocks / thighs / shins / calves. Weakness aggravated by exercise / walking / lifting. Slow but accelerating onset often associated with easement stooping or crouching

Presentation	Diagnosis	Options
Gradual onset of weakness of buttock or knee power / foot push off / increasing foot drop	Lateral Recess Stenosis (narrowing of the exit foramen / pathway for the nerve root. Often under diagnosed	Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression & Foraminoplasty / Open decompression ± medial facetectomy / Fusion / Interspinous spacer

Gradual onset of weakness ± wasting of buttock or thigh / foot push off / increasing foot drop	Axial Stenosis. Usually associated with intervertebral body slippage. Often over diagnosed in favour of Lateral Recess Stenosis	Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression & Foraminoplasty / Open decompression ± medial facetectomy ± Laminectomy or laminoplasty / Fusion / Interspinous spacer