Spondylolisthesis: Check out Chiropractic Care
Spondylolisthesis. It’s one of those long spinal condition words that takes some practice to articulate, and one of those spinal conditions that chiropractic can skillfully help in diagnosing, managing, treating, and referring if necessary for other forms of treatment or testing. Apple Country Chiropractic recognizes that the gentler the treatment, the better the outcome; the more stable the spondylolisthesis, the more responsive to conservative care. Some of the more recent studies on this spinal condition share hope for pain relief to those in Williamson with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that happens when one vertebral body (one of the spinal bones) slips forward or backward on the vertebral body next to it causing radicular or mechanical symptoms or pain, spondylolisthesis isn’t all that uncommon. Approximately 20% of the adult population deals with 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 usually is found at 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 4 to 25 years, 12% to 20% developed degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis progressed. It’s valuable 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 Williamson chiropractor is ready to help with Williamson spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Williamson chiropractic clinic, spondylolisthesis is treated with the conservative, non-surgical Cox® Technic System. Published studies, case reports, and clinical data have shown 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 remained stable. (3) In another case report of a US Marine Veteran, the patient noted a 25% reduction 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 seemed to take 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. In general, 95% of spondylolisthesis patients had maximal clinical improvement in less than 90 days. The gentler the treatment the more beneficial with spondylolisthesis. (5) Bracing spondylolisthesis (and other chronic spinal conditions like spondylosis and degenerated disc) is a common component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment plan to enhance function and lessen pain. (6) Apple Country Chiropractic will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise, bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis using The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Whether you can pronounce spondylolisthesis or not, be sure to make your Williamson chiropractic appointment soon get relief!
