Spine Instability

Beyond middle age degeneration affects the whole spinal segment. The single vertebrae begin to reduce their height gradually as a result of inadequate rehydration during resting periods resulting in wearing small joints of the vertebral arches.

This process will not cause permanent pain, but after heavy exercise painful muscle tension will develop more rapidly. The degeneration can be delayed by careful stamina training like power walking, hiking, biking, swimming, gymnastics, water treatment after Kneipp or massage at this stage. If this still leaves one with frequent and chronic muscle hardening a intensive cure should be considered where holistic natural treatment will often result in improvement.

Less frequent is genuine spondylolisthesis. In this condition the vertebrae and spinal arches, between the intervertbral joints, are misaligned. The intervertebral discs are prematurely deteriorated by the forces, which are misdirected. This results in sliding of vertebrae especially in children or teenagers. Spondylolisthesis can be a suspect in cases with frequent low back pain, especially when the pain increases after sport or exercises and is radiating into the legs and the small of the back.

Frequently spondylolisthesis in younger patients should be controlled by an orthopedic doctor. In cases with rapid progression surgery is necessary. Basically the muscles of the front and back should be strengthened. There are special training courses available and the learned exercises have to be performed over years.