Treating Spondylolisthesis Through Physical Therapy Exercises

The word Spondylolisthesis comes from Greek; spondylos means spine and listhesis means to slip or slide. It is a condition in which a vertebra (bones that make up the spinal column) slips forward or shifts out of place, onto the vertebra below it, in the spine; thus, altering the alignment of the spine. The slipped bone or vertebra causes the nearby tissue and nerves to become irritated and painful.

Spondylolisthesis can be of the cervical (neck) or the lumbar (lower back) region. However, Spondylolisthesis is usually of the lumbar region therefore, we will be focusing on it. As stated, the lumbar is the lower back region, to be more precise, it is the area below the curve of the waist. Muscles and ligaments provide support to the five vertebrae that form the lumbar spine. This support helps keep the spine stable and provides ease of movement.

Types of Spondylolisthesis

• Congenital


• Isthmic


• Degenerative


• Traumatic


• Pathological


• Post-surgical

Causes

The factors that can cause Spondylolisthesis include degenerated bones, fractured bones, stress fracture and/or a narrow spinal canal.

Symptoms

Many patients do not have any symptoms of Spondylolisthesis, but, when the symptoms surface they are usually in the shape of sharp back pains, muscle spasms (usually hamstrings) and numbness in the feet.

Treatment

Spondylolisthesis can be treated in various ways but the most important is physical therapy, because PT strengthens the muscles and teaches the patient how to protect their spine from future injuries. The PT for Spondylolisthesis is usually divided into two phases i.e. Active and Passive.

Passive Treatment

Focuses on relaxing you and your body; you do not need to take active part in the therapy. These include:

• Deep tissue massages


• Hot and cold therapies


• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)


• ultrasound

Active Treatment

In this phase your physical therapist teaches you exercises and techniques that help improve your flexibility, stability and strength. This is thus, a self help or self treatment phase.