Back pain is the most common type of orthopedic injury, and something that I have frequently written about on several occasions. One cause of back pain is spondylolisthesis, which until recent was something I treated in young athletes, especially females. Sports that can cause spondylolisthesis are gymnastics, dance, football and weightlifting. With the sports mentioned above, repetitive hyperextension of the lumbar spine occurs, causing instability at one or various levels. In the older population, spondylolithesis develops due to abnormal wear of cartilage, previous fractures, and a diagnosis of bone disease.
If an adult works in a warehouse or store where they are required to lift overhead repetitively, we tend to arch our backs in order to reach for that top shelf, resulting in hyperextension of your lumbar spine. This repetitive hyperextension day after day can result in abnormal wearing of the cartilage, leading to this condition. The same occurs in the young athlete, such as a gymnast, who during training, performs high repetitions of back hand springs, several times per week. Both examples describe a repetitive force on our lumbar spine, resulting in tissue damage and instability.
Spondylolithesis is defined as a forward slippage of the top vertebrae on the lower one, and has varying degrees of severity. It has been defined that a Grade 1-2 spondylolithesis are stable, whereas a Grade 3-4 spondylolithesis as unstable. The grade or severity of a spondylolisthesis is determined through diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray. Another common sign of spondylolisthesis which will be seen upon examination from a physician or physical therapist is a step deformity, where we can palpate the forward slippage of the top vertebrae from the bottom.
Common symptoms of spondylolisthesis are low back pain, muscle tightness, complaints of stiffness and weakness of the legs. Conservative treatment can include stretching, strengthening, core stabilization, and posture education, and has been proven to be extremely effective. Other treatments might include pain medication and wearing a back brace to limit range of motion of the spine.
If experiencing back pain now, or are sick and tired of experiencing frequent episodes of back pain, Cornerstone can help. See the local physical therapist, at Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health & Wellness Center, PC, conveniently located on 77 Brant Ave., Suite 101 in Clark, where they can screen for the origin of the pain, specialize in manual treatment, one-on-one care, and personalized exercise prescription.
For further information in regard to any injury or condition, and possible treatment options in a relaxing and convenient environment, call 732-499-4540. Cornerstone specializes in many facets of physical therapy, focusing on complete patient satisfaction, and patient results and guarantees that each individual will be seen within 48 hours. Open 6 days per week, Cornerstone is available for all patients’ hectic lifestyles and accepts all insurances. Let Cornerstone help you enjoy life, without worrying about uneasy pain.
David De La Fuente, DPT, CSCS, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health and Wellness Center, PC