Can You Exercise With Spondylolisthesis?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You may think you should avoid exercising with spondylolisthesis, but physical activity could actually help alleviate symptoms. Your spine specialist may recommend 3 exercises for spondylolisthesis pain:

pelvic tilts, knee lifts, and curl-ups

.

What should you not do with spondylolisthesis?

Most patients with spondylolisthesis should

avoid activities

that might cause more stress to the lumbar spine, such as heavy lifting and sports activities like gymnastics, football, competitive swimming, and diving.

What exercises are bad for spondylolisthesis?

  • Prone press-ups (Push-up while lying on the stomach)
  • Standing extensions.
  • Prone leg raises (Lifting legs while lying on the stomach)
  • Back extension machine at the gym.

What is the best exercise for lumbar spondylosis?

Your spine specialist may recommend 3 stretches and exercises to ward off the pain and stiffness of lumbar spondylosis:

pelvic tilt, knee lifts, and curl-ups

. Each exercise is demonstrated in the videos above, with additional details included below.

Does running make spondylolisthesis worse?

Symptoms from both degenerative disc disease (DDD) and spondylolisthesis (a spondy), which may occur together, can also

be exacerbated by running

. Spondylolisthesis is a slippage of one vertebra on another which is a form of spinal instability.

Does walking help spondylolisthesis?

You may think you should avoid exercising with spondylolisthesis, but

physical activity could actually help alleviate symptoms

.

Can you get disability for spondylolisthesis?


It is possible to apply for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration

(SSA) with a spondylolisthesis diagnosis, but the key to a successful claim is being able to provide all of the supporting medical documentation.

Is stretching good for spondylolisthesis?

Stretching your

glute muscles

can help to relieve tightness and tension. It can also lessen lower back pain, including pain caused by spondylolisthesis.

Are sit ups bad for spondylolisthesis?

While some core muscle exercises could prove to be beneficial, others will further

strain your

back, such as certain types of sit-ups. If you attend Pilates, avoid an exercise called “swimming,” in which you’ll lie on your stomach and lift you legs. As well, the “hurdler’s stretch” could further injure your back.

Can losing weight help spondylolisthesis?

Often, pain from spondylolisthesis can be treated with weight loss, pain medications (e.g.,

ibuprofen

, oral steroids), heat or ice, or physical therapy. If those methods are not successful, your physician may talk to you about surgery.

Is massage good for spondylosis?

Massage can restore suppleness to the neck muscles and may improve your ability to turn your head side-to-side.

Any type of neck massage

might benefit cervical spondylosis, and those that use heat may provide even more pain relief. You can also ask your doctor for a physical therapy referral.

What is the best treatment for lumbar spondylosis?

Treatment Options

Most of the time, spondylosis can be treated with non-operative therapies including

spine-specialized physical therapy

, low-impact exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, and steroid injections. These conservative methods are among many therapies used to manage the symptoms caused by spondylosis.

Can you live with spondylolisthesis without surgery?


Most patients will not need any surgical treatment as long as their spondylolisthesis is stable

, meaning the vertebra is not slipping forward any more. Your spine specialist most likely will want to monitor your spondylolisthesis at regular intervals.

Why is spondylolisthesis so painful?

Spondylolisthesis is a

condition involving spine instability

, which means the vertebrae move more than they should. A vertebra slips out of place onto the vertebra below. It may put pressure on a nerve, which could cause lower back pain or leg pain.

Can I lift weights with spondylolisthesis?

Other things to avoid with spondylolisthesis include weightlifting, activities that require twisting or bending and high-impact activities that put too much stress on your healing back, such as jumping rope or box jumps.

When should you have surgery for spondylolisthesis?

Surgery may be considered sooner if the patient’s spondylolisthesis is getting worse (i.e. the slip is progressing). Surgery may be recommended sooner if the

patient experiences pain that is so severe

that it inhibits his or her ability to sleep, walk, and/or function in daily activities.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.