What Are The Risk Factors For Spondylolysis?

By Author: Dr Sejal Thakkar
Total Articles: 38
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Spondylolysis is a condition where there is a defect in the vertebrae bone of the spinal column, most commonly in the pars interarticularis. This pars interarticularis connects the adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Spondylolysis occurs when there is a crack in this pars interarticularis causing it to be painful. If this kind of spondylopathy occurs on both the sides of the spine, it is called spondylolisthesis. In this article we give you information regarding the risk factors for spondylolysis

Risk factors of Spondylolysis

There are several risk factors for this kind of spondylopathy. The main risk factors include hereditary components, being from certain sections of the population as well as previous trauma to the area which has not healed properly. Spondylolysis normally occurs to individuals who indulge in high contact sports.

• Genetics: studies have shown that certain individuals with a certain genetic makeup of the lumbar spine have a high risk of different kind of spondylopathy. Even a small tweak in the anatomy of the spine can increase the livelihood of spondylolysis. The L4 vertebrae are the ...
... most vulnerable for this disorder. Other genetic factors that include in this spondylopathy are age and gender with males more prone than women. Individuals under the age of 26 are more likely to get affected by this and are normally diagnosed by the age of 16.

• Sports: Most high contact sports like football, wrestling and rugby involve a lot of blunt force trauma to certain parts of the body, which also include the spinal column. Other sports like Tennis, Diving, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Cricket and Volleyball involve a lot of movement of the spinal column, where, weak vertebrae will be susceptible to fractures.

• Previous trauma: a previous trauma to that area can cause the bones in the vertebrae to become weak. If it does not heal properly with the correct treatment and sufficient rest, it can be prone to more damage and cause a permanent form of spondylopathy

Spondylosis Treatment:

The spondylosis treatment depends on the nature and cause of the fracture. Normally, a sufficient amount of rest for a certain period of time will be enough to heal the fracture. In this period of rest, the activities should be kept to the minimum to ensure that the damage to the vertebrae is not permanent.

Painkillers will be given as part of the spondylosis treatment, to ensure that the individual does not suffer from too much discomfort during the healing process. A back brace and physical therapy will be undertaken to ensure that the muscles around the affected area do not atrophied. The spondylosis treatment can last from anywhere between 4 to 6 months depending on the extent of the injury.

Author Bio:
Dr.Sejal Thakkar, A Spine Consultant at Qi Spine Clinic. She is driven by the goal of achieving excellence in clinical practice by constantly updating her knowledge and has a special interest in movement analysis and done several workshops on Kinetic Control-Movement solutions, spondylopathy and spondylosis treatment.