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Column Do Corsets Work for Spondylolisthesis? Recommended Corset Types and How to Use Them Effectively

December 08, 2023

Abnormalities in the joints of the spine called intervertebral joints or in the intervertebral discs can cause the bones to misalign. This is called “spondylolisthesis”.

While mild lumbar spondylolisthesis may be asymptomatic, the main symptoms of a slip are back pain, pain and numbness in the buttocks and lower extremities, and intermittent claudication.

Many people are treated with a corset once they are diagnosed with such a misalignment, so today we will discuss the effectiveness of corsets in the event of a slip.

The Different Types of Corsets

Several types of corsets are available on the market.

Types of corsets according to body sites

3 types of corsets are available, depending on the body area they are to be worn on.

・Thoracolumbar-sacral corset: immobilizes the patient from the chest down to the sacrum.

・Lumbosacral corset: immobilizes the lumbar region and the sacrum.

・Sacrosacral corset: immobilizes the sacrum only.

The higher and wider the corset, the wider the range of immobilization.

Types by rigidity

Corsets are classified into 3 categories depending on their rigidity.

・Rigid braces: are made of plastic that fits the contours of the patient’s body and are made from a cast. They have high immobilizing power but are difficult to move around in.

・Semi-rigid braces: The back is made of a metal support and the abdomen is made of a soft material such as nylon mesh canvas. They are often made based on body measurements.

・Flexible braces: these consist of a nylon mesh canvas or elastic material and Velcro tape. Some types of orthotics also use partial metal supports. They also may be devised based on body measurements.

Common lumbar corsets are often referred to as soft braces.

Soft corsets are used not only for spondylolisthesis, but also for low back pain caused by disc herniation and other conditions. Wearing a corset increases trunk stability and can relieve the symptoms.

Can corsets help with spondylolisthesis?

If you are diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, wearing a corset may reduce the strain on your back muscles and relieve some symptoms.

However, it is important to wear the corset correctly. Putting it on incorrectly may aggravate the symptoms.

Advantages of wearing a corset

・Reduces the strain on the lower back

Wearing a corset helps to stabilize the trunk. The corset protects the lower back when carrying heavy objects or doing work in a semi-crouching position.

A certain sense of security

Many people get scared when they are told that their bones are out of alignment during an examination, but wearing a corset can provide a sense of security, which can also be an advantage mentally.

Disadvantages of wearing a corset

・Loss of the muscle strength that supports the torso

Continued wearing of a corset weakens the back and abdominal muscles, making it difficult for them to work properly.

・Decrease in the flexibility of the spine

Wearing a corset restricts trunk movement (such as twisting) and causes stiffness. This can cause the trunk to stiffen even when the corset is removed, making it difficult to move as desired, which can lead to torsion of the lumbar vertebrae and trigger new sources of pain.

・Inability to do things without wearing a corset

Wearing a corset gives you a sense of security, but at the same time, you may feel anxious at the thought of taking it off, eventually making it difficult to actually do so.

The proper way to wear a corset

As mentioned above, it is important to wear the corset correctly.

・Place the corset so that the upper part of the corset is around the navel and the lower part around the upper part of the pelvis.

・First, pull the inside part of the corset as you wrap it.

・Next, pull the tape around the outside part of the corset.

・Finally, pull the tape as you wrap it.

When wrapping the corset, be careful to leave some space so that the belly does not become painful and to make it easier to breathe.

Also, do not wrap the corset directly around the skin, as this may cause a rash.

Precautions to take when wearing a corset

When wearing a corset, be careful about the following points:

Wear a corset only when the pain is severe, or when you have to carry heavy objects or do some work semi-crouched, and do not wear it all day long. Wearing a corset for long periods of time can weaken the muscles and have the opposite effect.

You should also be careful not to wear the corset too tightly. Wrapping it too tightly may not be effective, and may cause poor circulation, which in turn may increase the pain.

Our clinic’s treatment – the Cellgel method

While wearing a corset can relieve symptoms by reducing the strain on the lower back, it is also important to undergo fundamental treatment.

Recent research indicates that intervertebral disc degeneration is a factor in causing spondylolisthesis. *1

For this reason, we believe that prevention of spondylolisthesis cannot be achieved without repairing the degenerated intervertebral discs. At our clinic, we perform the Cellgel procedure for spondylolisthesis disc that have been caused by degeneration of the intervertebral discs.

*1 : I. Akkawi, H. Zmerly. Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Narrative Review. Acta Biomedica, vol. 92, No.6, 2021.

Our cellgel procedure provides a fundamental treatment by injecting a drug into the annulus pulposus in the disc, which in turn becomes a gel that fills the cracks. It is characterized by the fact that the volume of the disc is not reduced and that the drug remains in the disc as a gel implant after treatment, thus preserving the disc.

Unlike conventional surgery, the Cellgel procedure does not involve incisions, so there are fewer postoperative risks.

The hospital stay is only half a day, and you can walk home on the same day of treatment.

The Cellgel Method

If you are suffering from back pain or have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, please consider a consultation at our clinic.

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