Spondylolisthesis Diagnosis

Like most conditions that affect the back, diagnosing spondylolisthesis requires three steps.

First your physician will take a medical history to find out when you first started to feel your pain and symptoms, if you have any hereditary conditions in your family, and what you were doing when you injured yourself. You should let the doctor know if there are any positions that increase or decrease your pain, as well as what you do to try and alleviate some of your symptoms.

Second a physical examination will be performed where your range of motion, spinal flexibility and other physical symptoms will be assessed.

Your doctor will also check for signs of muscle weakness and perform some tests to check how your nerves are functioning

Diagnostic Tests for Spondylolisthesis

Because spondylolisthesis affects the bony vertebrae, if it is suspected that you are suffering from the condition, a simple X-ray may confirm the diagnosis. If there is a chance that damage to soft tissue has occurred an MRI may be requested to better visualize this.

Diagnosing Spondylolisthesis

Because spondylolisthesis affects the bony vertebrae, if it is suspected that you are suffering from the condition, a simple X-ray may confirm the diagnosis. If there is a chance that damage to soft tissue has occurred an MRI may be requested to better visualize this.