Medical Student University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Introduction: Limited evidence exists on the efficacy of physical therapy (PT) interventions for adults with lumbar spondylolisthesis, a condition that frequently causes low back pain and disability. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the efficacy of PT interventions for spondylolisthesis in adults for improving pain and disability to improve patient care.
Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception to April 26, 2023, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) describing PT (e.g., exercise, manual therapy) for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Inclusion criteria were adult patients (≥18 years old), diagnosis of lumbar spondylolisthesis (any type including degenerative or isthmic), RCT study design, and use of PT interventions.
Results: The systematic review process began with 1,014 articles, with 156 articles screened by abstract and 35 by full text. Five studies met our inclusion criteria. The frequency weighted mean (FWM) decrease in pain for the conventional physical therapy (CPT) group (n=157) was 2.6 ± 1.0 points whereas the FWM decrease in pain for the lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE) subgroup (n=56) was 2.9 ± 0.5 points. The FWM decrease in Owestry Disability Index (ODI) for the CPT group was 14.4 ± 6.6 points; the FWM decrease in ODI for the LSE subgroup was 17.3 ± 0.1 points.
Conclusion : PT interventions may provide short-term improvements in pain and disability in patients with spondylolisthesis.
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