Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy in Chicago for Lower Back

Q: Is there any treatment for when one vertebrae slips over another? My mother has this in her lower back and it's causing her quite a bit of back pain.

A: As some people age, they may develop a condition called spondylolisthesis, where one vertebrae, or spinal bone, may slip over the one below it. This could be caused by a deterioration or degeneration of the spine, as with arthritis, or by a trauma to the spine. Regardless of the cause, it can cause significant pain and disability to some people.

Treatment for this condition may involve exercises or Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy, to help strengthen and stretch the muscles around the spine and the abdominal muscles. For some people, a brace can help by supporting the back. If neither of these non-surgical methods work, some physicians recommend surgery to help fuse the spine, taking the pressure of the first vertebrae of the second one.

Reference: Patrick J. Denard, MD, et al. Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Among Elderly Men. In Spine. May 1, 2010. Vol. 35, No. 10. Pp. 1072-1078.