One of the first steps to take after you are properly diagnosed with a spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis is to find a physical therapy clinic to help with your rehabilitation.
More often than not, your medical professional will provide you with the name of a physical therapy clinic that they recommend.
Keep in mind, this does NOT mean you have to visit this therapy clinic. Doctors often provide clinics that are connected to their practices in some way. Sometimes these recommendations are great clinics that provide top notch care. Other times these clinics are not so great. They may use outdated methods and exercises and have little experience when it comes to spondylolisthesis.
Unfortunately, many who suffer from spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis will experience a failed trip to the therapy
clinic at some point. We discussed this topic in more detail in a previous blog post located HERE.
Having one or two bad experiences at a clinic does not mean you should give up hope. I have been through several failed attempts until I found the right care.
One misconception I had and I am sure others have is the notion that all therapy for treating spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis is the same. As I visited clinic after clinic I always thought the only difference was the individual administrating the therapy.
This is a myth that is far from the truth.
The truth is, there is no rule stating that a physical therapist has to follow a certain program, exercise, or method to treat your spondylolisthesis. You could go to five different clinics and receive five completely different methods of
treatment.
The key is to find what works for you and your weaknesses.
This is why we are big advocates of individual screening. Even though we all may suffer from a spondylolisthesis the actual cause of the pain could stem from different issues.
Tight hips, poor thoracic spine mobility, immobile ankles, weak glutes, etc. could all be causes of inflammation and pain. With so many possible causes of pain, one universal stretch or exercise could not cure everything.
More often than not, your medical professional will provide you with the name of a physical therapy clinic that they recommend.
Keep in mind, this does NOT mean you have to visit this therapy clinic. Doctors often provide clinics that are connected to their practices in some way. Sometimes these recommendations are great clinics that provide top notch care. Other times these clinics are not so great. They may use outdated methods and exercises and have little experience when it comes to spondylolisthesis.
Unfortunately, many who suffer from spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis will experience a failed trip to the therapy
clinic at some point. We discussed this topic in more detail in a previous blog post located HERE.
Having one or two bad experiences at a clinic does not mean you should give up hope. I have been through several failed attempts until I found the right care.
One misconception I had and I am sure others have is the notion that all therapy for treating spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis is the same. As I visited clinic after clinic I always thought the only difference was the individual administrating the therapy.
This is a myth that is far from the truth.
The truth is, there is no rule stating that a physical therapist has to follow a certain program, exercise, or method to treat your spondylolisthesis. You could go to five different clinics and receive five completely different methods of
treatment.
The key is to find what works for you and your weaknesses.
This is why we are big advocates of individual screening. Even though we all may suffer from a spondylolisthesis the actual cause of the pain could stem from different issues.
Tight hips, poor thoracic spine mobility, immobile ankles, weak glutes, etc. could all be causes of inflammation and pain. With so many possible causes of pain, one universal stretch or exercise could not cure everything.
There is no universal stretch to cure every spondy.
To achieve long term relief of pain and discomfort it is important to address these issues on an individual to individual basis.
With this being said, you can see why some people have success with therapy and others do not. Some therapists have experience with the issues at hand and can provide the right path to success, and some do not.
Many people do not realize they have a choice with their therapy and that some clinics are better than others.
Don’t hesitate to ask around and find the clinic that is right for you.
If you have tried therapy and failed to see results, I highly encourage you to look around for another clinic.
It took me years to realize that therapy clinics follow their own principles for helping people to feel better and recover from injury/pain.
So remember, there is no one protocol to follow for clinics when they help you with your recovery from spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis.
Make sure to ask your therapist if they have had success working with spondylolisthesis patients in the past, this should give you a good idea if you are in the right place.
With this being said, you can see why some people have success with therapy and others do not. Some therapists have experience with the issues at hand and can provide the right path to success, and some do not.
Many people do not realize they have a choice with their therapy and that some clinics are better than others.
Don’t hesitate to ask around and find the clinic that is right for you.
If you have tried therapy and failed to see results, I highly encourage you to look around for another clinic.
It took me years to realize that therapy clinics follow their own principles for helping people to feel better and recover from injury/pain.
So remember, there is no one protocol to follow for clinics when they help you with your recovery from spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis.
Make sure to ask your therapist if they have had success working with spondylolisthesis patients in the past, this should give you a good idea if you are in the right place.
