Lumbar Spondylosis Treatment

Lumbar Spondylosis Treatment

Lumbar spondylosis is a condition involving the natural wearing down of bones, cartilage and ligaments of the spine in the lower back area. At Vitalis Physiotherapy, our specialised treatment aims to:

Encourage Recovery

Improve Spinal Loading

Reduce Pain

About the condition

What is lumbar spondylosis?

Spondylosis is a term referring to the natural wearing down in the lower back, referred to as the lumbar spine. This area of the spinal column is comprised of vertebral bones, discs, ligaments and cartilage. Lumbar spondylosis can also be called arthritis or osteoarthritis of the back. Bone spurs (bones rub against each other), thinned discs, thickened ligaments and cartilage loss are all part of spondylosis.

Causes

What are the causes?

As one gets older, the spine undergoes changes as a result of normal wear and tear over the years. Additional risk factors include obesity, smoking history, sedentary lifestyles, high impact activities and other conditions (e.g., diabetes, IBS, Lyme disease, etc.)

There are typically 5 main causes of lumbar spondylosis:

  • Degeneration– over time, the discs in your back slowly wear down, become thinner and surrounding tissue loses elasticity.
  • Stiff Ligaments– ligaments are cords of muscle which connects bones together and canstiffenor thicken with age.
  • Osteoarthritis– this is aprogressive conditionwhich causes the degeneration of cartilage in joints at a faster rate than normal aging.
Symptoms

What are the symptoms?

  • Back pain and/or stiffness
  • Soreness or numbness in the back
  • Muscle spasms
  • Tingling/pins and needles sensation
  • Difficulty with movement
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Differential diagnoses of other conditions (e.g.,Facet Joint Syndrome,osteoarthritis)
Treatment

Treatment for lumbar spondylosis

As there are different causes and presentations of lumbar spondylosis, you may be referred to get scans (X-ray, MRI and/or CT). A physiotherapist will then be able to assess the severity of the condition and the treatment required. Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent lumbar spondylosis from developing into a chronic condition.

At Vitalis Physiotherapy, we tailor a treatment plan to best fit your recovery goals through:

Your physiotherapist may also advise heat or ice application, rest and if necessary, pain medication. Additionally, they might recommend for you to usespinal support (braces), a Therapeutic Pillow, or to improve gait and posture throughcustom foot orthoticsand othersupportive footwearoptions.

  • Soft tissue mobilisations (massage)
  • Stretching exercises
  • Strengthening, conditioning and balance techniques
  • Restoring range of movement
  • Postural improvement
  • Dry needling
  • Taping
  • Shockwave Therapy
  • TENS treatment
  • Home exercise and self-management techniques
  • Graded Exposure to load program

Need Help?

Are you in pain caused by lumbar spondylosis? Contact Vitalis Physiotherapy now to book in your treatment. Call our friendly team on 0410 559 856. We’d love to help.