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Spondylolisthesis

What is it?

Spondylolisthesis happens when one vertebrae in your back slips forward out of place, resulting in pain. It may happen anywhere along the spine but it is most common in the lower back. Spondylolisthesis is commonly preceded by spondylolysis which is a weakness or stress fracture in one of their verterbrae.

Although spondylolisthesis more commonly occurs in young people, it may also occur in older adults and those who participate in sports that require frequent overstretching of the lumbar spine (such as gymnastics, soccer and weightlifting). Overtime, this repetitive overstretching may weaken the spine, leading to a fracture and/or shifting of the vertebrae.


Signs and Symptoms

In most cases, patients with spondylolisthesis may not notice any obvious symptoms and only discover the condition after taking an X-ray for an unrelated injury or condition. However, when symptoms do occur, the one most commonly reported is lower back pain that feels like a muscle strain that radiates to the buttocks and back of the thighs.

Other symptoms that patients may experience include:

  • Back stiffness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Tight hamstrings
  • Difficulty standing and walking


Treatment Options

For patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis, nonsurgical treatments may be recommended first to treat symptoms. These include:

  • Rest
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Physiotherapy
  • Wearing a brace

Surgery may be recommended for spondylolisthesis patients who suffer from severe shifting of the verterbrae, shifting that is progressively worsening or back pain that has not improved after a period of nonsurgical treatment.
 


Bracing Through the Pain: A Hairdresser’s Journey with Degenerative Scoliosis and Spondylolisthesis

With his jovial attitude and friendly demeanor, you would have been hard-pressed to tell that just a few years ago, Adrian Yeo was suffering from several painful spinal conditions that left him in constant, debilitating pain.
Read the story


Move well. Feel well. Caring together for your bones and joints means taking care of your range of movements and the quality of life you want. From exercise and nutrition, to attending to injuries and long- and short-term conditions, moving well can influence your daily routines, work and play.


Empowering Yourself with Knowledge

This resource provides information about cancer, including:

  • Importance of Bone & Joint Care: Understand the importance of maintaining your bone and joint health.
  • Common Orthopedic Conditions: Learn about the different types of common orthopedic conditions and their characteristics.
  • Key Risk Factors: Explore various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may leave you susceptible to orthopedic conditions.
  • Ways to Improve Bone & Joint Care: Learn about lifestyle factors and preventive measures to minimize your risk of orthopedic conditions.


What is Bone & Joint Care?

Bone and joint care focuses on maintaining the health and function of your musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions that affect these structures, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fractures, sprains, and strains. Good bone and joint health is essential for mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.

Importance of Bone & Joint Care

  • Mobility & independence: Healthy bones and joints allow you to move freely and perform daily activities without pain or limitations.
  • Pain prevention: Bone and joint problems can cause chronic pain that affects your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy life.


What Causes Orthopedic Conditions?

Heart disease is caused by a complex interplay of factors, including:

  • Non-Modifiable Factors: Age, gender, ethnicity family history, and inherited genetic mutations.
  • Modifiable Factors:
    • Lifestyle: Diet, occupation, sports and physical activities, and poor posture.
    • Health: Obesity, Prior injuries


Symptoms of Orthopedic Conditions

Symptoms of orthopedic conditions may vary depending on the type of orthopedic conditions. However, some general signs and symptoms include:

  • Pain in the affected segment of the bone or joint
  • Swelling and Redness
  • Joint stiffness
  • Limited range of movement
  • Numbness, tingling or weakness

Important Note: These symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions. Speak to our Specialists today for proper evaluation and diagnosis.


Common Orthopedic Conditions in Singapore

  • Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage, the smooth tissue that cushions the ends of bones in joints.
  • Fractures happen when there is a break in a bone, which can be caused by trauma or osteoporosis.
  • Sprains & Strains, are stretches or tears of a ligament (sprain) and stretches or tears of a muscle or tendon (strain).
  • Back Pain can be caused by various factors, including muscle strains, ligament sprains, disc herniation, and spinal stenosis.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome happen when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, is compressed.
  • Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that typically develops during adolescence.


Improving Bone & Joint Health

Here are some helpful ways to improve your bone & joint health:

  • Eat a heart-healthy diet with an emphasis on calcium-rich food such as dairy-products and leafy green vegetables.
  • Get enough vitamin D which is essential for calcium absorption. You can do so by getting sufficient sunlight or from fortified foods and supplements.
  • Engage in regular physical activities by doing weight-bearing exercises such as jogging or stair climbing, muscle-strengthening exercises which build muscle mass and flexibility exercises such as yoga and stretching.
  • Practice good posture, avoid slouching and maintain proper posture while sitting and standing.
  • Manage existing medical conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis through medication and lifestyle changes.
     

Mobility

Enjoy the right form of exercise at your preferred pace. Listen to your body and improve your everyday mobility with the movement solutions that suit you.

Learn about fall prevention in the elderly, hip and knee joint replacement, and nutrition information from our medical and allied health specialists.

Care

Get tips and takeaways for the benefit of your daily routines and activities from our orthopedic and allied health specialists for various conditions and treatment options.

Learn about conditions relating to shoulder and elbow, neck, back and spine, hand and wrist, foot and ankle, geriatric care, and sports injuries. Helping you with individualized care.

Our Specialists

Our panel of specialists cover a wide range of orthopedic conditions to meet your needs.

Find a Specialist