Expert Advice   Print Version Q. My doctor said my X-rays showed that a vertebra in my low back is slipping forward. Will this get worse and will my spine eventually slip off? A. Your doctor may be describing a spine condition called spondylolisthesis, which refers to slippage of the spine. This condition often begins as a stress fracture in the pedicle of the vertebral body, called a spondylolysis. The pedicle connects to the vertebral body and is part of the bony ring that forms the spinal canal. If a defect is present on both pedicles, the facet joints are not able to hold the vertebra from slipping. The forward pressure stretches the disc. In adults, this stretching usually allows only a small amount of forward slip without the risk that the upper vertebra will slide off. In teenagers, there is an extreme form of spondylolisthesis in which the upper vertebra slips completely off the lower vertebra. Your condition may not get worse, but you will have a higher risk for developing chronic low back pain. A supervised program of physical therapy will help you learn which postures to avoid and what exercises are needed to help stabilize and protect back. Print Version		Anatomy and Function of the Spine Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis Diagnostic Tests for Spine Problems Q. When can I play golf, ride a bike, or go hiking after spine surgery? A. It depends on the type and location of your surgery. A micro-discectomy… Clicking on any of the links will take you to a Web site to which this Privacy Policy does not apply. You are solely responsible for your interactions with such Web sites. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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