Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one vertebra slips either forward or backward on an adjacent vertebra. There are three types of spondylolisthesis:congenital spondylolisthesis (means your were born with it), isthmic spondylolisthesis (overuse-think football lineman and gymnasts), and degenerative spondylolisthesis (by far the most common type).
The most common symptom is generalized lower back pain. Weak low back muscles and tight hamstrings creating the inability to bend are symptoms, along with pain, tingling, and weakness in the legs.
The last time I checked, Father Time was undefeated, however, this does not mean that we are fated to succumb to the effects of this condition just because we are getting older. There are some very simple things we can do to prevent spondylo and some of the very same things can be done if lower back pain does present itself. First, practice good posture. This will keep your spine in proper alignment. The second idea is to strength train. The benefits of proper strength training are myriad. When done on a consistent basis, strength training will improve muscle strength, which helps support all of the joints. Stronger muscles also promote stronger bones and let’s not forget that flexibility is enhanced. Reread the symptoms. All of those are directly opposite of what strength training does for the back and body. Just another reason to keep strength training!
Update 2/28/18:  With addition of the MedX Medical Lumbar Extension, along with the other four MedX Medical Machines, we can measure the strength of the muscles of the low back and directly strengthen them to help relieve or eliminate the symptoms of Spondylolisthesis.
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Nikola
June 27, 2016 10:27 amI have (or had) one client with this condition. His doctor told him he can’t do any gym for the rest of his life. I still hope to convince him to come and maybe this article will help in that. Thank you.
Carolyn Ogden
August 23, 2016 11:40 pmI am a personal trainer with this condition. Doctors tell you the most ridiculous things. I was told not to do back bends. I have been doing yoga for many years and hard gym workouts. I am pain free and my contain has not worsened. I do back ends and am very careful to use my spine wisely and keep my core and organs as support. At 51 one I feel great thanks to my persistence with exercise.
Dwayne Wimmer
August 24, 2016 12:21 pmHello Carolyn & Nikola,
Thanks for your comment!
The situation with most doctors is simple, they prescribe conservitivly to the norm, at best. They have to cover their liabilities and don’t want to tell someone that they should do something, then have them do what they think they were told to do and hurt themselves doing it. They can not be there when they are exercising, so they cover their butts by being very conservative. The problem with this approach is when it is prescribed to people who want to “Get Better”, not just “Not Get Worse”, they feel as if they are stuck and can’t het better. That is where there needs to be a bridge between the medical community and the exercise community. I just had this conversation with a Orthopedic friend of mine Dr. Nick DiNubile yesterday. For the wellbeing of the people who want to get better, the bridge needs to be built. But, MOST people don’t want to do what it takes to get better, they just don’t want to get worse. To build that bridge, we as exercise professionals have to communicate with medical professionals, like my fired, and the medical community has to be open to talking with us. A problem is that most in the medical community have with our industry is that there are too many hacks and people who don’t know what they are doing which takes them right back to being conservative with their prescription for exercise. Obviously I have a lot to say on this topic, but to conclude, we as an exercise field need to become professionals, raise the average standard of practice, then educate the medical community on the fact we know what we are doing. But until we rid the “Fitness” Industry of the marketers who are out there preying on the ignorance of the general public with their “Snake Oil” it will NEVER happen. Right now, the bridge we need to build doesn’t even have a foundation because of the lack of professionalism and state of the fitness industry.
Again, thanks for your comment.
Dwayne