Contraindications for exercises

Contraindication for performing exercises is the increased occurrence of pain. If the pain worsens during an exercise, it should be stopped and only resumed or, if necessary, replaced after checking by a specialist. If neurological symptoms occur, the performance of exercises should also be stopped immediately.

Neurological symptoms can be: tingling in the lower extremity, loss of sensitivity, or radiating pain in the lower extremity. Problems with urinary and fecal continence are a neurological emergency and a medical examination must be performed immediately. Patients with spondylolysis should avoid stress such as severe compression of the spine (e.g. trampoline jumping) or severe stress due to hyperlorous dosing of the spine (hollow back).

Further therapeutic measures

In addition to stabilizing strength training for the abdominal and back muscles, and especially for the autochthonous back muscles, further treatment measures can be helpful in spondylolysis. For acute pain after overloading, short-term immobilization with a corset can relieve symptoms. Stepped positioning can also be helpful here if necessary.

In addition to the exercise program, physiotherapy can contribute to the treatment of spondylolysis by using manual soft tissue techniques (trigger point treatment, fascia therapy), detonating massage techniques, but also electrotherapy or heat or cold application. Medically, the treatment of spondylolysis is supported by the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs) – i.e. painkillers not containing cortisone – or by local injections of anti-inflammatory drugs. Further useful information about the spine can be found in the article “Ligaments of the spine”.

What is spondylolysis?

In spondylolysis, a so-called continuity interruption of the intervertebral joints occurs. The extensions that form these joints originate from the vertebral arch. Each vertebral arch has one extension to the vertebral body above and one to the vertebral body below.

A gap may form in the vertebral arch, separating the connection between the two extensions. If both intervertebral joints are affected (bilateral interruption of the interarticular portion), spondylolisthesis may be the result. In this case, the upper vertebra slides forward in relation to the lower one.

The vertebra can slip forward to varying degrees. For diagnostic purposes, the vertebrae are classified into severity levels according to Meyerding.Spondylolysis is a fracture that usually does not heal. The disease can therefore only be treated symptomatically or, in severe cases, surgically.