Home HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY CAN HELP WITH LUMBAR PAIN

HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY CAN HELP WITH LUMBAR PAIN

Friday, 23rd December 2022

Lower back pain is a common complaint for athletes of all ages, gender and fitness levels. A type of back pain that we screen for and manage is Lumbar Spondylolisthesis. A Spondylolisthesis is a condition that occurs when one vertebral body slips with respect to the adjacent vertebral body that can cause pain and/or nerve related symptoms. It is graded based on the degree of slippage of one vertebral body on the adjacent vertebral body. Spondylolisthesis commonly occurs in the Cervical and Lumbar spine segments. This post will discuss Spondylolisthesis specifically in relation to its effect on the lumbar spine and the management of this condition.

What causes a spondylolisthesis and how does it present?

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis can be degenerative in nature, often caused by repetitive flexion or extension movement which can place strain on the segment of the vertebrae that helps to maintain alignment of the spine. Symptoms are often reported when extending the lower back or with high intensity exercise that involves repetitive spinal movement eg. cricket, gymnastics and dancing.

Symptoms and findings for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis can include

Lower back pain with radicular (radiating) pain into the buttocks or middle back
Pain with extension of the spine and easing of this pain with flexion of the spine
Pain on palpation of the lower spinous processes

Activity modification

Education on safe and comfortable positions Reduction of high intensity exercise Reducing repetitive extension movements

Manual Therapy

This could include Dry Needling, Soft Tissue Massage, ART & appropriate joint mobilisations The goal of Manual therapy is to relieve stress to extension based movements and muscles, thus reducing symptoms

Flexion based exercises

Core Strengthening (examples include deadbugs, planks, pallof press and more) Mobility exercises to improve tolerance to spinal flexion and eventually working into extension when appropriate Motor control exercises (performing functional and task specific movements) Sport/Activity specific exercises

Bracing

Bracing can be used if the grading of the Spondylolisthesis is of a high grade and the injured segment warrants further stabilisation to allow for healing

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis is a condition that does warrant thorough assessment from your healthcare provider and is especially important to consider in a growing population (children/adolescents). If you think you, a friend or family member could be suffering from Lumbar Spondylolisthesis please contact PEAK at your earliest convenience to organise your assessment with our Physiotherapy or Chiropractic Coaches.