Conservative Management of Spondylolysis: Structured Nonoperative Protocol

References

DOI: 10.1155/2020/9235958

• All patients were treated nonoperatively with prescription for a thoracolumbar orthosis and discontinuation of sporting activity for three months followed by a structured PT program.
• At our facility, we work closely with referring physicians who will utilize NSAIDS and, in some cases, spinal injections to reduce pain initially after diagnosis to allow for improved tolerance of therapeutic activity.
• We encourage initiation of regular PT participation immediately in cases where diagnosis is suspected or confirmed.
• There is good evidence for conservative management, including the restriction of activity/sport combined with PT and implementation of external bracing only if symptoms persist.
• Eliminating specific movements, actions, or sport activities that provoke pain are the initial steps of treatment strategy.
• In the short-term following injury, typically defined as six weeks, the majority of patients with spondylolysis will symptomatically improve, and the majority of athletes return to usual sporting activity.
• Resolution of pain and normalized ROM are the initial goals of treatment and are utilized as a benchmark throughout the rehabilitation process to allow for progression of activity.