Spondylolisthesis. It’s one of those long
spinal condition words that calls on some
practice to articulate, and one of those spinal conditions that
chiropractic can ably assist in diagnosing,
managing, treating, and referring as necessary for other forms of
treatment or testing. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries knows that the
gentler the treatment, the better the outcome; the more stable the spondylolisthesis,
the more receptive to conservative care. Some of the more
recent studies on this spinal condition share hope for pain
relief to those in Manchester with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that happens when one
vertebral body (one of the spine’s bones) slips forward or backward
on the vertebral body next to it causing radicular or mechanical symptoms or pain,
spondylolisthesis is not too unusual a condition.
Approximately 20% of the adult population deals with
it. Low back pain often accompanies it. Degenerative
spondylolisthesis is most often seen at the L4/5 lumbar spine
level in adulthood. Non-degenerative spondylolisthesis usually is
found at the L5/S1 level. (1) Researchers evaluated
the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its associated
slippage by looking through published studies. They discovered
that over a 4 to 25 year timespan, 12% to 20% acquired
degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis
progressed. It’s valuable to note that 2/3 of spondylolisthesis
patients’ slips didn’t progress. (2) Non-progressing is good! Even
degenerative is good as it often responds to care. Your Manchester chiropractor is ready to help
with Manchester spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Manchester chiropractic clinic, spondylolisthesis
is treated with the conservative, non-surgical Cox® Technic
System. Published studies, case reports, and clinical data have revealed
treatment outcomes. In a case study of a patient experiencing both an
extruded L4/5 disc herniation and a spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at L5/S1,
pain was documented to decrease from a 9 to 1 on a
10 point scale in just 9 visits over 4 weeks of care. At 10 years
follow up, the patient stayed stable. (3) In another case study
of a US Marine Veteran, the patient noted a 25% reduction
in pain and 22% decrease in disability with 10 visits in 2
months leading the researchers to close
the report with the conclusion that this care may well be a safe
and effective approach. (4) Then, in a 1000 cases study with data from
31 different chiropractic clinics, L4/5 spondylolisthesis seemed to take
more visits and time than L5/S1 spondylolisthesis to attain
maximal clinical improvement. The mean number of days to maximal improvement
was 29 days and 12 visits regardless of the condition. In general,
95% of spondylolisthesis patients experienced maximal clinical improvement
in less than 90 days. The gentler the treatment the better with spondylolisthesis. (5) Bracing spondylolisthesis (and
other chronic spinal conditions like spondylosis and disc degeneration)
is a typical component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment
plan to improve function and reduce pain. (6)
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise,
bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Lee Hazen on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates treatment of
degenerative spondylolisthesis with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
Whether you can pronounce spondylolisthesis or
not, be sure to make your Manchester chiropractic
appointment now get relief!