3 Essential Self-Rehabilitation Exercises for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Traditional Chinese medicine doctor, Kuo-Pin Wu, offers exercises to manage and alleviate symptoms of lumbar spondylolisthesis.
3 Essential Self-Rehabilitation Exercises for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
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Lumbar spondylolisthesis can cause lower back pain and compress nerve roots, leading to numbness or leg pain. In addition to spinal surgery, committing to rehabilitation exercises remains one of the most effective ways to manage and alleviate symptoms of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Introduction

From my clinical experience, patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis generally see limited improvement with treatments such as lumbar traction, acupuncture, or herbal medicine, as these methods do not reposition the displaced vertebrae. While traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques can realign the vertebrae temporarily, the spine often shifts out of alignment shortly afterward. This occurs because the surrounding muscles and ligaments have adapted over time to the misaligned position.

Therefore, it is essential to first relax the muscles and ligaments around the spine before attempting realignment, as this helps the vertebrae maintain their correct position. However, multiple sessions may still be needed to achieve lasting stability.

Kuo-Pin Wu
Kuo-Pin Wu
Kuo-Pin Wu has practiced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for nearly 20 years. Formerly a structural engineer with a master’s degree from a renowned university, he later earned a doctor of medicine degree in TCM. Leveraging his engineering background in logical analysis, he specializes in identifying patterns to diagnose and treat complex diseases. Wu is currently the director of XinYiTang Clinic in Taiwan.
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