Spondylolisthesis: Check out Chiropractic Care
Spondylolisthesis. It is one of those long spinal condition words that takes some practice to pronounce, and one of those spinal conditions that chiropractic can skillfully assist in diagnosing, managing, treating, and referring if necessary for other forms of treatment or testing. Young Chiropractic 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 Easley with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that occurs when one vertebral body (one of the spinal bones) slips forward or backward upon the adjacent vertebral body causing radicular or mechanical symptoms or pain, spondylolisthesis is not too unusual a condition. About 20% of the adult population has it. Low back pain often accompanies it. 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 studied the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its associated slippage by looking through published studies. They uncovered that over 4 to 25 years, 12% to 20% developed degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis progressed. It is 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 Easley chiropractor is ready to help with Easley spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Easley 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 reported to decrease from a 9 to 1 on a 10 point scale in only 9 visits over 4 weeks of care. At 10 years follow up, the patient remained stable. (3) In another case report of a US Marine Veteran, the patient reported a 25% decrease in pain and 22% decrease in disability with 10 visits in 2 months leading the researchers to conclude 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 took 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. Overall, 95% of spondylolisthesis patients had maximal clinical improvement in fewer 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 common component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment plan to improve function and reduce pain. (6) Young Chiropractic will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise, bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Young Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis using The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Whether you can say spondylolisthesis or not, be sure to schedule your Easley chiropractic appointment today get relief!
