Spine, Back & Neck
Spondylolisthesis
One vertebra sitting forward relative to the one below it.
Also called: Vertebral slip, Stable spondylolisthesis.
A spondylolisthesis is graded by how far the slip has occurred and whether it is stable. Many are long-standing, stable and compatible with an active life; some require medical management.
Some people discover it incidentally on an unrelated scan with no symptoms at all, while others notice a clear pattern of low back discomfort tied to certain movements.
Why this matters
Standing tolerance, extension activities and certain exercises are the usual points of difficulty.
Understanding whether a slip is stable helps set expectations for what kinds of activity and exercise are reasonable to continue.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Trunk control and the timing of the muscles supporting the segment are part of what the evaluation looks at.
Good coordination of the deep spinal stabilizing muscles is one of the more meaningful factors that can be assessed and worked with over time.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Where a slip is unstable, progressive, or associated with nerve symptoms, medical evaluation comes first and care is coordinated accordingly.
- New or progressive leg weakness or numbness
- Signs of instability, such as a sense of the back giving way
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Low Back Pain & Sciatica — Low back pain is common, but the place that hurts is not always where the problem is being driven from.
- Back Pain — One of the most common reasons people look for a chiropractor — and rarely as simple as one sore muscle.
- Cervical Disc Herniation — Disc change in the neck, sometimes with arm symptoms.
- Cervical Spondylosis — Age-related change in the neck joints and discs, often seen on imaging.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.