Spondylolisthesis Grade 2

I was diagnosed about two years ago with grade 2 spondylolisthesis and advanced degenerative discogenic disease and dextroscoliosis. I've had chronic pain for 15+ years. I work out 6 days a week, bicycle, weight training, stretching. I was wondering if I am doing certain things which I shouldn't. Can you please advise which types of weight training and stretches I should avoid? Thank you.

Comments for Spondylolisthesis Grade 2

Click here to add your own comments

Jun 12, 2013
Spondylolisthesis grade 2
by: Nancy from US

Dr. Sarah, I'm sorry, didn't mean to not include my name. Thank you for your input. I'm 59 years old and have been lifting weights for about 20 years, although I needed to back off a good deal. I was doing heavy leg presses on a machine and have eliminated this entirely. I really appreciate your input, thank you.

Nancy from New Jersey

Jun 12, 2013
my reply
by: Sarah says:

PS I'm sorry about the right hand column partially obscuring the text of my reply. I will get on to SBI! about it!

Jun 12, 2013
a spine-friendly alternative to weight training
by: Sarah says:

Dear (whoever you are - I do like a name and a country! It makes me feel more in touch through cyberspace! )
I have to tell you, weights training keeps me in business. It is totally, but totally, spine compressing. Of course you can off-set the compression by increasing abdominal strength (lower not upper and you can go to my other website and see the 'best abs exercises for bad backs' through the following link best abs exercises for bad backs
as well as upgrading your pelvic floor exercises.
Since you have a Grade 2 spondylolisthesis you need to be carefully about making the spinal segment slip further forward. Remember that all the spinal segments below L2 have a tendency to develop an 'anterolisthesis'. This is a slight forward slip of the upper vertebra off the vertebra below. This can be compared to a stack of books edging forward off a table as you lift one side. The tendency is there and you have to control it.
The other way you can stop further forward slip is by upgrading the strength of your spinal intrinsic exercises. You can see on the following link on spinal strengthening exercises how to do this:
back strengthening exercises
And finally, why not try handstands instead of those weights? I say to my patients 60 seconds of handstands is with 40 minutes of pumping iron! (for the arms that is).
Hope this helps, Mr Anonymous.
Sarah

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Ask Sarah.


Sarah Key Video Library




buying the books from amazon is a lot cheaper than buying from us!







Or Buy the Books from Amazon UK


Australian and New Zealand buyers can buy the books from Booktopia



Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.