Spondylolisthesis is described as a spinal condition affecting the lower part of the spine. In effect one of your lower vertebrae slips forward and hits the bone in front of it. This will result in pain as pressure is placed on the nerves running through the spine.
You’ll also notice a decrease in spine stability and an increased likelihood of arthritis in your back. When this happens you may find it hard to straighten properly, this can have a knock-on effect on daily tasks, especially bending and lifting.
There are several things you can do now to help prevent this disease from happening to you. But, if you are already displaying symptoms you should see a specialist in Spondylolisthesis. They’ll be in the best position to advise and treat the issue, restoring your quality of life.
Steps To Prevent The Onset Of Spondylolisthesis
It’s not always possible to prevent this disease from affecting you. After all, a slipped disc can happen by accident at any age and this will increase your likelihood of future issues.
But, taking the following measures will help to strengthen your abdominal and back muscles. This will reduce the strain on your spine and decrease the likelihood of injury or age-related deterioration.
Exercise
You need to exercise to maintain muscle strength. It’s normal for people to lose muscle mass as they age. In fact, this process can start from as young as 30. Undertaking resistance training can help to reverse this muscle decline, keeping your body strong into old age.
But, while almost any exercise is good, you should avoid exercises that place excessive strain on your back. This doesn’t mean avoid the exercises, it means using weights and resistance techniques that gently push the limits of your ability, don’t go extreme.
Good exercises for back strength include planks, knee to chest stretches, bridges, lateral leg lifts, supermans, rotational exercises, and even partial curls. Check this out for a guide to these exercises.
Other activities that are worth considering are non-impact, such as cycling and swimming, these are great for your entire body without placing stress on any particular joints.
Maintaining A Healthy Weight
As you age your metabolism will slow, this means you’ll need fewer calories than when you were younger. If you don’t change your eating habits then you’ll gradually put on weight.
Unfortunately, excess weight places additional strain on your joints, increasing the likelihood of issues.
It’s time to review your diet and focus on eating unprocessed foods while balancing your carbohydrates with proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables. While you don’t want to spend all your time calorie counting, you should have a good idea of your calorie consumption and make sure you consume less than your body needs on a daily basis.
As with anything in life, small things can make a big difference over time. Looking after your body today will help to prevent spondylolisthesis and other age-related conditions from happening in the future.
That means you can have a better quality of life, regardless of what age you are.