Ep 195. Beyond the Slip: How to Assess and Treat Spondylolisthesis with Dr. Robert Medcalf

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks sits down with Dr. Robert Medcalf, Physical Therapist and MDT expert. They discuss the challenges of assessing and treating Spondylolisthesis without relying solely on imaging results.

Dr. Medcalf shares insights on differentiating between a stable and unstable slip and how to guide patients through recovery using Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy principles. The conversation also dives deep into the myth that all spondylolisthesis patients must avoid extension, offering a logical framework for when to load the spine and when to focus on stabilization.

💭 “The interesting thing about that study is that they found there was no association between spondylolisthesis and back pain..” - Dr. Robert Medcalf

📚You will learn about: 

• What spondylolisthesis is, how it’s classified, and why imaging findings don’t tell the whole story

• Where pain in spondylolisthesis truly comes from

• How to assess and manage spondylolisthesis conservatively using mechanical principles

• When surgery may be appropriate

🔎 Robert's resources of information:

• SPRATT, Kevin F. et al. Efficacy of flexion and extension treatments incorporating braces for low-back pain patients with retrodisplacement, spondylolisthesis, or normal sagittal translation. Spine, v. 18, n. 13, p. 1839–1849, 1993

• OH, Jacob Yoong-Leong et al. Paradoxical motion in L5-S1 adult spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. European Spine Journal, v. 21, n. 2, p. 262-267, 2011.

• HARDWICK, D. et al. Outcomes of strengthening approaches in the treatment of low-grade spondylolisthesis. Physical Therapy Reviews, v. 17, n. 5, p. 284-291, 2012. DOI: 10.1179/1743288X12Y.0000000025.

📲  Robert's contact information:

• Linkedin

🎥Link to interview on Youtube 

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