Spondylolisthesis pronounced (spon-dee-low-liss-thesis) is a condition of the spine where one vertebral body segment slides forward in relation to the one below.

The word has a Greek origin in which spondylo means “vertebra” and listhesis means “slippage.”

The vertebral bodies are the major weight bearing structures of the spine. The most common type of spondylolisthesis under the age of 50 is an “isthmic” type of spondylolisthesis.

To make sure you're really getting tongue tied, this is more commonly referred to as a spondylolisthesis with spondylolysis. In simpler terms it means that there have been periods of mechanical stress on a certain area of the vertebra to cause a type of stress separation of the bone which allows for the slippage. The most common area of the spine to have a spondylolisthesis is the lumbar spine or lower back. It used to be thought that these were birth defects but studies have shown that there has never been one found in a newborn. It is now believed to be a developmental problem which I will get into a little later.

There are certain segments of the population which seem to have a higher incidence of this than others. In the general population there is about a 5 to 7 percent prevalence.

However, in the Eskimo population one study has shown that the rate can be as high as 40.3 percent. It is also higher than average in certain American Indian populations. It has been suggested (Yochum) that this may be due to the papoose position that these cultures place their baby's in. This vertical position would over a period of time create these mechanical stresses I mentioned that are believed necessary to develop this condition.

This theory could be extended and applied to our own culture. Could the extended use of certain infant swings and infant carriers lead to the same problem? There is no way to see if a spondylolisthesis exists on a physical exam. Some kind of imaging needs to be done. It is most often seen on either an X-ray or an MRI. When they are present, many times they do not produce any pain but sometimes they do.

Often times chiropractic care can be helpful in reducing the pain associated with this as well as helping the patient understand the dos and don'ts of proper body mechanics. Very rarely, these conditions can be considered “unstable” and need a further work-up to determine the type of care that would be best.

Dr. Scott Kilmer is a licensed

chiropractor located in Auburn