We present the case of an 85-year-old woman with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) over 2 years. Walking metrics including daily step count, speed, and length were monitored, showing deterioration (initial: speed =1.03 m/s, length =0.49 m, daily count =3,136; final: speed =0.49 m/s, length =0.37 m, daily count =334). Bilateral lower limb weakness and paraesthesia developed, limiting mobility to a few meters. Surgical management was recommended after shared decision-making. The worsening walking metrics corresponded to increasing need for assistance, from none initially to requiring a four-wheel walker before surgery. This suggests walking deterioration could guide decisions on assistance. This is the first report objectively documenting LSS deterioration using walking metrics over a prolonged period.
Publication Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8990394/
