What Are the “Spondys”?
The “spondys” are a group of problems that can cause low back pain. They include three types:
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylolisthesis
These are all hard words, us doctors of physical therapy even have a hard time saying them. But don’t worry—we’ll explain them simply!
Spondylosis: When Your Low Back Gets Stiff, Some Low Back Pain
Spondylosis is another word for spine arthritis. It happens when the soft cushions (called discs) between your back bones get dry and thin. When that happens, the bones might rub together and cause pain.
This pain can feel sharp, tingly, or burning in your lower back, hips, butt, or legs. It can also make it hard to move, bend, or walk.
Spondylolysis: A Tiny Crack In Your Back, More Low Back Pain
Spondylolisis is a small crack in a part of your spine. This usually happens from doing the same hard movements over and over again—like bending backward or twisting.
It’s most common in kids and teens who do sports like gymnastics, football, dance, or weightlifting. If you have this, you might feel pain in your lower back that gets worse when you’re active and better when you rest.
Kids and teens are also at increased risk of suffering a spondylolysis during a growth spurt due to the rapid changes occurring in the body. If you’re suffering from a spondylolysis you may feel pain that spreads into the thigh and glute areas, worsens during physical activity, and improves during times of rest.
Spondylolisthesis: A Bone Slides Out of Place, The Most Low Back Pain
This happens when one of your back bones slides forward out of place. It often starts because of that tiny crack we talked about earlier.
Some people have only a little movement between the bones (that’s called Grade 1 or 2), and others may have a lot (called Grade 3 or 4). The more it moves, the worse it can feel.
You might feel stiffness, numbness, or leg pain. Walking can be hard, too. Older adults and women tend to get this more often.
There are different kinds:
Isthmic: Happens when a small piece of bone breaks
Degenerative: Happens as you get older and your discs wear out
Congenital: Happens because the spine didn’t form right at birth
So How Do I Know What I Have?
A Physical Therapist (PT) can help figure it out. They’ll ask you to move your back and look for signs like stiffness, tight muscles, or bumps in your spine, using many tests including the “Sill Sign.” They may also send you to get pictures like an X-ray or MRI.
So What Do To Feel Better?
The best way to feel better is to get strong! PTs help you build strength in your core (tummy and back muscles). This helps protect your spine and reduce pain.
Sometimes you might wear a back brace for extra support. Other times, special exercises that bend your back forward or backward can help, depending on what feels better for you.
If nothing helps and the pain is really bad, surgery might be needed—but that’s not common.
We Can Help!
If you have back pain like this, don’t wait! Seeing a Sports Physical Therapist early can help you feel better faster. At Inside Track Physical Therapy and Wellness, we’ll check your back, find out what’s wrong, and help you get strong again. Find out more here!
