Acupuncture for Lumbosacral Spondylolysis

Lumbosacral spondylolysis is a condition common among dancers, weight lifters, and people who carry heavy things for a living. It causes back pain when bending backward, but may have no symptoms when a person bends forward.

What activities can lead to lumbar sponydylolysis?

Certain activities and sports are also associated with a higher incidence of lumbosacral spondylolysis:

• Sports that involve throwing
• Gymnastics
• Rowing
• Wrestling
• Diving
• Weight lifting
• Ballet (especially when a ballet dancer overcompensates by bending back)
• Football
• Dancing
• Volleyball
• Repeated extension, flexion, torsion, and rotation of the back, especially if done against resistance

What are the signs and symptoms of lumbar spondylolysis?

Here are a few symptoms of this condition:

• Forward bending may not elicit pain, but backward bending does
• Sciatica (a syndrome of pain, tingling, and weakness that indicates sciatic nerve involvement)
• Tight hamstrings, tight lumbar muscles
• Thigh and buttock pain
• Hyperlordosis (exaggerated curvature of the back that makes the buttocks project outwards)

How can acupuncture help people with lumbar spondylolysis?

Acupuncture has been studied repeatedly when it comes to its usefulness in lumbar spondylysis and in many other conditions. According to a review of several studies evaluating acupuncture’s effectiveness against low back pain, acupuncture seems to be effective.

Evidence strongly suggests, in fact, that acupuncture can be a very good addition to many treatments for low back pain. There is also moderate evidence indicating that acupuncture, whether sham or not, does bring about relief.

People who choose not to take medications for their low back pain may benefit from acupuncture. It does not come with the side effects of drugs and is a more natural means of achieving pain relief from lumbosacral spondylolysis.

A study has also been done to determine if fake or simulated acupuncture actually has the same effects as real acupuncture. According to the evidence presented, there seems to be no difference. This means that even simulated or sham acupuncture can help a person in pain due to lumbosacral spondylolysis.

Whether or not this healing effect is because of a psychological or “placebo” effect is uncertain. But to people in pain, what matters is that it does provide pain relief – and it does so in a natural way.

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Lumbosacral Spondylolysis: Natural Relief

Lumbosacral spondylolysis may seem like a mouthful, but it is actually a common disorder, especially in athletes, daaannncers, and people who carry heavy loads. It can result in pain or discomfort involving the back, causing a considerable health burden in many countries.

This condition is then best prevented through proper posture and by knowing your physical limits. However, once you have it, you have to learn how to avoid further injury. You should also know how to get pain relief.

Pain or discomfort from lumbosacral spondylolysis may be achieved through pharmaceutical products; however, long term use of drugs eventually results in side effects. Fortunately, there are more natural ways to afford relief from pain due to lumbosacral spondylolysis.

What is lumbosacral spondylolysis?

Lumbosacral spondylolysis is a defect of a part of the vertebrae, called the pars interarticularis, involved in ensuring a strong attachment among the bones of the vertebra.

What causes lumbosacral spondylolysis?

This condition is caused by many factors, such as:

• Fractures or repeated/ accumulated microfractures involving the vertebrae. This results in weakening of the structures of the vertebrae, predisposing to lumbar spondylolysis.
• Too much stress on the backbone. This puts much stress on the pars articularis, eventually leading to its damage.
• Weak supporting structures. Strong supporting structures prevent stress on the pars articularis, protecting the vertebrae from spondylolysis.
• Growth and development. Yes, even normal growth can lead to spondylolysis, especially if a person has a genetic predisposition.
• Abnormalities of the pars articularis. People born with abnormalities of the pars articularis are of course predisposed to damaging it.
• Repeated carrying of heavy loads. This is especially true when the back is hyperextended, such as when you carry a big, heavy box and you lean back to maintain balance.
• Repeated hyperextension of the back. This puts repeated stress on the pars articularis, eventually causing damage and leading to spondylolysis.

Natural treatment for lumbar spondylolysis

Although many analgesics are prescribed for pain due to lumbar spondylolysis, there are also natural ways to achieve pain relief. For example, acupuncture is a more natural means to achieve pain relief.

 

How does acupuncture give relief for lumbar spondylolysis?

Read about how acupuncture works in the next article.