One thing that helps to get relief from your spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis is to fully understand your condition. You need to know what exactly is going on beneath the skin to help relieve pain.
Having knowledge about your condition will not only answer many of the question's you have, but it will help you to understand how your body works. Once you begin to learn how the body works, you can start feeling better with the right spondylolisthesis exercises and stretches.
So let's begin a quick spondy lesson!
Spondy is a slang term used to describe the very confusing doctor terminology for the condition's Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis (we prefer spondy). Spondylos is a Greek term simply meaning spine or vertabrae, and lysis, which mean's a break or loosening. You combine the two and get a break or loosening or the spine. One of the most common break or stress fractures occurs in the low back or Lumbar spine just above the Sacral spine
Having knowledge about your condition will not only answer many of the question's you have, but it will help you to understand how your body works. Once you begin to learn how the body works, you can start feeling better with the right spondylolisthesis exercises and stretches.
So let's begin a quick spondy lesson!
Spondy is a slang term used to describe the very confusing doctor terminology for the condition's Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis (we prefer spondy). Spondylos is a Greek term simply meaning spine or vertabrae, and lysis, which mean's a break or loosening. You combine the two and get a break or loosening or the spine. One of the most common break or stress fractures occurs in the low back or Lumbar spine just above the Sacral spine
Anatomy & Terminology (don't worry, we will keep it simple)
Illustration by Don Furhmann
1. Pars interarticularis - The bony projection on the left and right sides of each vertebral segment. Once too much stress is applied, these bony projections suffer a break. Once a break occurs at this segment it is called an isthmic spondylolysis.
Many people don't realize what the pars interarticularis is, but it plays a very important role in those who suffer from spondy's.
Sometimes the fracture of the pars can occur on both sides of the vertabrae (bi-lateral spondy), when this happens slippage or displacement of the vertabrae can occur (spondylolisthesis).
(It is tough too see, but the break is located in the 3rd vertabrae down from the top. Start up top and count down to the 3rd vertabrae to locate the break.)
Many people don't realize what the pars interarticularis is, but it plays a very important role in those who suffer from spondy's.
Sometimes the fracture of the pars can occur on both sides of the vertabrae (bi-lateral spondy), when this happens slippage or displacement of the vertabrae can occur (spondylolisthesis).
(It is tough too see, but the break is located in the 3rd vertabrae down from the top. Start up top and count down to the 3rd vertabrae to locate the break.)
2. Lumbar Spine - Portion of the spine located about the same height as the belly button and works down towards the butt. There are 5 total segments of the lumbar spine. You might hear your doctor label the lumbar segments as L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5. The "L" before the number refers to lumbar.
3. Sacral Spine - Located directly below the lumbar portion of the spine. The sacral spine also has segments. The 5th lumbar vertabrae and 1st sacral segment meet in the low back. This is a common location of the fractures amongst spondy sufferers. Many suffer their spondy's at L5/S1 or 5th lumbar/1st sacral vertabrae.
4. Grades - Spondylolisthesis are graded according to the amount of slippage or displacement they have. A spondylolisthesis could be graded from a 1 (least amount of displacement) to a 4 (most amount of slippage).
3. Sacral Spine - Located directly below the lumbar portion of the spine. The sacral spine also has segments. The 5th lumbar vertabrae and 1st sacral segment meet in the low back. This is a common location of the fractures amongst spondy sufferers. Many suffer their spondy's at L5/S1 or 5th lumbar/1st sacral vertabrae.
4. Grades - Spondylolisthesis are graded according to the amount of slippage or displacement they have. A spondylolisthesis could be graded from a 1 (least amount of displacement) to a 4 (most amount of slippage).
This is a VERY brief and quick description on some of the common terminology you might have heard or read when searching your condition. Remember, the more you know about your condition, the better chance you have of avoiding pain!
Understanding your condition in combination with the right spondylolisthesis therapy program can lead to pain relief and better movement.
Make sure to check out next weeks blog for part 2! In the mean time, make sure to sign up for our Newsletter. It is full of articles, exercises, and stretches to help you feel better!
