Lower back pain effects up to 80% of the population at one point in their life. One cause of lower back pain can be due to spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis can be defined as a forward displacement of one vertebra on top of another. This condition affects around one tenth of the population, with many people being asymptomatic and never knowing they have it.
Spondylolisthesis can present in many ways, these include sharp or dull lower back pain that can radiate down one or both legs, there may be spasm of muscles in the lower back, chronically tight hamstrings, decreased range of motion of the lower back, and pain with spinal movements.
Research has shown that spondylolisthesis can respond well to manual therapy (such as Osteopathy) as it can help to address the specific muscle strain patterns associated with spondylolisthesis. Therefore, providing pain relief and improving day to day function allowing you to do the activities you enjoy.
Written by Manuel Mauch
A little about the author: I’ve sent two years exploring the conservative research around spondylolisthesis and what can be done to help individuals with this spinal condition. Over those two years I’ve written a thesis consisting of over 40,000 words about the most current research surrounding spondylolisthesis.
