Answer:
Dear Carolina,
Spondylolisthesis
Grade 3 and grade 4 patients should avoid contact sports or sports
involving high speed and changes of direction.
You can
find more information at:
Spondylolysis
with spondylolisthesis | Sports I can practice and sports I should
avoid.
To avoid
spondylolisthesis from sports, stay away from hyperextension activities.
Most
patients with spondylolisthesis should avoid activities that might
cause more stress to the lumbar spine, such as heavy lifting and sports
activities like gymnastics, football, competitive swimming, and diving.
At home
you may want to avoid sitting for long periods of time, wear a support
brace if recommended, take nutritional supplements that help rebuild
disc cartilage, do exercises that strengthen your spine, sleep on
a supportive mattress, sit in an ergonomically designed chair, and
modify your daily activities as needed.
Sports
that involve repetitive hyperextension and axial loading of the lumbar
spine may result in repetitive microtrauma to the pars interarticularis,
resulting in spondylolysis and sometimes spondylolisthesis.
Examples
of such activities include gymnastics, football (lineman), wrestling,
weight lifting (particularly standing overhead presses), rowing, pole
vaulting, diving, hurdling, swimming (especially the butterfly stroke),
baseball (especially pitching), tennis (especially serving), sailing
(particularly the hiking maneuver), and volleyball.
Gymnastics
and football are generally considered the highest risk sports.
There
are several exercises and stretches generally recommended for people
with spondylolisthesis .
These
exercises focus on strengthening your core muscles because if those
muscle groups are strong, they can better support your spine.
Core
exercises strengthen your core muscles, including abs, back and pelvis.
Strong
core muscles make it easier to do most physical activities.
You can
do core exercises on a carpeted floor or mat. Breathe freely and deeply
during each exercise. Focus on tightening your deepest abdominal muscle
- the transversus abdominis - during each exercise. This is the muscle
you feel contracting when you cough.
Repeat
core exercises five times. Gradually build up to 10 to 15 repetitions
as your strength improves
