Spondylolisthesis. It’s one of those big
back pain condition words that demands some
practice to articulate, and one of those spinal conditions that
chiropractic can ably assist in diagnosing,
managing, treating, and referring if necessary for other forms of
treatment or testing. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre knows that the
gentler the treatment, the better the outcome; the more stable the spondylolisthesis,
the more receptive to conservative care. Some of the latest studies on this spinal condition offer hope for pain
relief to those in Toronto with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that occurs when one
vertebral body (one of the spine’s bones) slips forward or backward
on the adjacent vertebral body causing radicular or mechanical symptoms or pain,
spondylolisthesis is not too unusual a condition.
Approximately 20% of the adult population has
it. Low back pain is its companion. Degenerative
spondylolisthesis is most often diagnosed at the L4/5 lumbar spine
level in adulthood. Non-degenerative spondylolisthesis typically affects the L5/S1 level. (1) Researchers analyzed
the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its related
slippage by looking through published studies. They uncovered
that over a 4 to 25 year timespan, 12% to 20% developed
degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis
progressed. It is important to note that 2/3 of spondylolisthesis
patients’ slips did not progress. (2) Non-progressing is good! Even
degenerative is good as it often responds to care. Your Toronto chiropractor is ready to help
with Toronto spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Toronto 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 with both an
extruded L4/5 disc herniation and a spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at L5/S1,
pain was reported 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 report
of a US Marine Veteran, the patient reported a 25% decrease
in pain and 22% decrease in disability in 10 treatments over 2 months leading the researchers to conclude that this care may well be a safe
and effective approach. (4) Then, in the 1000 cases study with data from
31 different chiropractic clinics, L4/5 spondylolisthesis took
more visits and time than L5/S1 spondylolisthesis to experience
maximal clinical improvement. The mean number of days to maximal improvement
was 29 days and 12 visits regardless of the condition. Overall,
95% of spondylolisthesis patients had maximal clinical improvement
in fewer than 90 days. The gentler the treatment the more
beneficial with spondylolisthesis. (5) Bracing spondylolisthesis (and
other chronic spinal conditions like spondylosis and disc degeneration)
is a common component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment
plan to improve function and lessen pain. (6)
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise,
bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Lee Hazen on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates treatment of
degenerative spondylolisthesis utilizing The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
Whether you can pronounce spondylolisthesis or
not, be sure to make your Toronto chiropractic
appointment soon get relief!