03/19/2023
This week, I’ve been reviewing client case notes (and their detailed doctor’s notes). I periodically do reviews to make sure I haven’t overlooked something. Your massage therapist keeps up with your health, right? Good golly, I sure hope so! Let's dive in...
Spondylosis - For you seasoned folks in the population, this is spinal column degeneration. It’s due to the normal wear and tear of living. Most of you will simply feel stiff and less flexible than your younger days. Your doctor might have you on anti-inflammatory meds, possibly a brace, and likely has suggested helpful movements/activities. Massage Therapy can help reduce pain, discomfort, and stiffness.
Spondylolysis (aka “pars defect”) - In layman's terms your back is an interlocking puzzle where each vertebrae prevents another from slipping with bony features akin to “door stops.” With -lolysis, a fracture in the “articular structures” of a vertebrae has broken one or both “door stops” but the bones have not “slipped,” yet. However, the little disks between the bones are now under sheer-type stress (not good).
Spondylolisthesis - now the broken “door stops” can no longer do their job and a vertebra has “slipped” forward out of position. The disk has been traumatized (you know like when your kid puts the doorknob through the drywall because the door stop broke or was removed and thrown at a sibling - shenanigans!). Anyway, -lolisthesis has many “subtypes” (congenital, accidental, degenerative, and/or related to other illnesses/surgeries). Your massage therapist needs to be careful here - they need to position you properly and they should avoid aggravating the condition. You should be under the care of doctors for this. Massage therapy can help manage pain, reduce emotional stress, and reduce spasms and tightness (likely to be found in your illo-psoas muscle group - deep in the abdomen). In some cases you likely NEED that tightness - it's preventing further injury! And I’ll be honest here, even in the BEST of conditions, heal rates are only at 50%. So, you realistically set your goals more on maintenance.
Retro—Spondylolisthesis - ehhh… basically Spondylolisthesis but the disk has slipped backwards. This is not nearly as common, so we won’t dive into it (but it’s cool that I’m aware of it in case you get it, right?).
Pseudospondylolisthesis - This was a rock band from the 80’s. No wait, sorry, it’s a “slipped disk” scenario, but no broken door stops!
Well, that wraps up an overview of a confusing array of terms related to back conditions. Choose your massage therapist wisely!
