Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Treatment in San Jose
Nonsurgical Care for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
Lumbar spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra shifts forward relative to the vertebra below it and may be associated with low back pain, leg symptoms, and reduced mobility. At Berryessa Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center, Dr. Ron Benson evaluates each patient’s spinal alignment, symptoms, function, and imaging when appropriate to determine whether CBP® corrective care may be a suitable nonsurgical option.
Schedule Now!
Reach out to us for any questions you might have!
Can Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Improve With Nonsurgical Corrective Care?
Lumbar spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra shifts forward relative to the vertebra below it. For some people it is associated with low-back pain, leg symptoms, reduced mobility, and difficulty with everyday activities. The appropriate treatment depends on the type and severity of the slip, symptoms, neurologic findings, and other health factors.
A 2026 study published in the European Spine Journal reported changes in spinal alignment and quality of life in 117 patients with lumbar anterolisthesis who completed Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) corrective spinal rehabilitation.
What the 2026 Study Found
The retrospective case series included 117 patients with low-back pain and lumbar anterolisthesis greater than 4 mm. Patients averaged 42.9 treatment visits over approximately 22 weeks, or about 2.14 visits per week.
Across Grades I–III, average forward vertebral translation decreased significantly after care. The researchers also reported clinically meaningful improvements in SF-36 measures of physical functioning, bodily pain, physical health, and mental health.
What Did the Corrective Program Include?
- Mirror Image® therapeutic spinal exercises
- Mechanical corrective spinal traction
- Mirror Image® chiropractic adjustments
The corrective program was individualized and was intended to improve the measured lumbar translation and overall spinal biomechanics.
Schedule your appointment today.
Ready to discover the benefits of chiropractic care?
Why This Research Is Important
Many nonsurgical approaches to spondylolisthesis focus primarily on symptom management or stabilization. This study is notable because it documented radiographic changes in vertebral translation along with patient-reported changes in pain, function, and quality of life in a relatively large clinical case series.
What the Study Does — and Does Not — Prove
This was a retrospective case series, not a randomized controlled trial, and there was no untreated control group. Therefore, the findings show an association between the CBP® rehabilitation program and the measured improvements, but the study cannot by itself establish that treatment caused the changes. Grade III results were based on only four cases. Larger controlled studies and long-term follow-up are needed.
Individual results vary. Not every spondylolisthesis is appropriate for corrective chiropractic care, and some patients require additional medical or surgical evaluation.
Could This Approach Be Appropriate for You?
At Berryessa Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center, Dr. Ron Benson evaluates spinal alignment, symptoms, function, and imaging when clinically appropriate to determine whether corrective care may be suitable for an individual patient. Dr. Benson holds Advanced Certification in Clinical Biomechanics of Posture/Chiropractic BioPhysics®.
If you have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis—or have persistent low-back pain, leg symptoms, or reduced mobility—an evaluation can help determine the appropriate next step.
frequently asked questions
Some cases of spondylolisthesis may be managed with nonsurgical care, depending on the type and severity of the vertebral slip, symptoms, neurologic findings, and other individual factors. At Berryessa Chiropractic Spine & Injury Center, Dr. Ron Benson evaluates spinal alignment, function, symptoms, and imaging when appropriate to determine whether corrective care may be suitable.
Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) corrective care is designed to address measured spinal alignment and biomechanics. The program described in the 2026 European Spine Journal case series included Mirror Image® therapeutic exercises, mechanical corrective spinal traction, and Mirror Image® chiropractic adjustments.
A 2026 retrospective case series of 117 patients reported reductions in forward vertebral translation following a CBP® corrective rehabilitation program, along with improvements in several quality-of-life measures. However, the study did not include an untreated control group, so it demonstrates an association rather than proving that treatment caused these changes. Individual results vary.
An evaluation can help determine whether corrective chiropractic care may be appropriate based on your symptoms, spinal alignment, function, imaging, and the severity and type of spondylolisthesis. Not every case is appropriate for corrective chiropractic care, and some patients may need additional medical or surgical evaluation.
Lumbar spondylolisthesis can be associated with low-back pain, leg symptoms, reduced mobility, and difficulty performing everyday activities. Symptoms and their severity can vary, which is why an individualized evaluation is important when determining appropriate care.
6 Myths About Chronic Pain That Keep You From Healing
Poor posture affects more than just your back—it impacts your health and energy. Get our free PDF guide on posture correction and start feeling the difference.
