Spondylolisthesis: Check out Chiropractic Care
Spondylolisthesis. It is one of those big back pain condition words that calls on some practice to articulate, and one of those spinal conditions that chiropractic can skillfully help in diagnosing, managing, treating, and referring as necessary for other care. Johnson 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 Richmond with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that happens when one vertebral body (one of the spine’s bones) slips forward or backward on the vertebral body next to it resulting in back and/or leg pain, spondylolisthesis is not too unusual a condition. About 20% of the adult population deals with 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 usually is found at the L5/S1 level. (1) Researchers analyzed the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its associated slippage by reviewing published studies. They found that over 4 to 25 years, 12% to 20% acquired 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 Richmond chiropractor is ready to help with Richmond spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Richmond chiropractic clinic, spondylolisthesis is managed via 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 just 9 visits over 4 weeks of care. At 10 years follow up, the patient stayed stable. (3) In another case study of a US Marine Veteran, the patient reported a 25% reduction in pain and 22% decrease in disability with 10 visits in 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 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 experienced 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 typical component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment plan to improve function and reduce pain. (6) Johnson Chiropractic will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise, bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Johnson 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 with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Whether you can say spondylolisthesis or not, be sure to schedule your Richmond chiropractic appointment today get relief!
