- Spondylolisthesis is graded according to its severity. Grade 1 is least severe, and Grade 5 is the most severe. In a Grade 1 spondylolisthesis, the vertebra has slipped forward 25 percent.
- Many people with a Grade 1 spondylolisthesis have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are typically mild and include post-exercise back pain, numbness or pain in the legs, and urinary or fecal incontinence.
- There are two primary types of spondylolisthesis. Acquired spondylolisthesis is common in older adults and can be caused by repetitive movements or a sudden injury. Developmental spondylolisthesis occurs during childhood but may not be diagnosed until later in life.
- Spondylolisthesis affects up to 3 percent of women and up to 6 percent of men. It is often seen in children ages 9 to 14, and in athletes and others involved in strenuous physical activities.
- A Grade 1 spondylolisthesis is treated with medication for pain and swelling, and bed rest followed by physical therapy. Surgery is seldom needed for a Grade 1 spondylolisthesis.
