Spondylolisthesis. It is one of those big
back pain condition words that calls on some
practice to say, and one of those spinal conditions that
chiropractic can capably assist in diagnosing,
managing, treating, and referring if necessary for other forms of
treatment or testing. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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 offer hope for pain
relief to those in Groton with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that happens when one
vertebral body (one of the spine’s bones) slips forward or backward
upon 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 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 evaluated
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 Groton chiropractor is ready to help
with Groton spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Groton 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% reduction
in pain and 22% decrease in disability in 10 treatments over 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 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 experienced 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 lessen pain. (6)
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise,
bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 say spondylolisthesis or
not, be sure to schedule your Groton chiropractic
appointment soon get relief!