Mitigating Spondylolisthesis Causes
Spondylolisthesis causes include age-related anatomical degeneration, traumatic injury, or an underlying congenital condition. Quite often, these causes are not preventable. At best, someone who develops spondylolisthesis can only hope to mitigate the conditions or limit the activities that may exacerbate the vertebral slippage. Fortunately, there are preventative measures available that may make it possible for some individuals to effectively combat the condition.
Steps You Can Take On Your Own
When spondylolisthesis causes chronic symptoms such as pain and back stiffness, it's important to receive medical attention. However, patients receiving medical treatment for symptoms associated with vertebral slippage - or those who may be vulnerable to the development of the condition - can do something about it at home.
Effective steps include:
- Strengthen the abdominal and back muscles to provide additional support to the bony infrastructure of the spine.
- Avoid cigarette smoke, which contains chemicals that inhibit the diffusion of nutrients within the spine.
- Maintain a healthy weight to avoid excess stress on the spinal anatomy.
- Use proper form and technique when playing sports and exercising to avoid repetitive stress injuries.
Common Sense Required
It's important to note that the steps listed above are not "self treatment" for spondylolisthesis causes. Rather, they represent a common-sense approach to establishing and maintaining good spine health. Only a physician can diagnose vertebral slippage, and a treatment plan should be formulated based on that diagnosis. Still, the better a patient's overall health, the more likely he or she will be able to deal with the potentially debilitating symptoms of spondylolisthesis. And the earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the chance that the patient will be able to avoid surgery in the future. At the first sign of chronic back or neck pain, a visit with a physician is in order.
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