Neck & jaw Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
Cervical Spondylolisthesis
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Pain into the shoulders or arms
- A feeling of instability in the neck
- Sometimes pins and needles in the arms
Quick answer
Cervical spondylolisthesis is forward slippage of one neck vertebra over the one below, usually from degenerative change or previous injury. Treatment focuses on strengthening the muscles that stabilise the neck and avoiding positions that stress the segment. Most cases are managed without surgery.
Typical recovery
8–12 weeks of rehabilitation, then maintenance
A typical range, not a promise — how long it takes depends on how long it has been going on, and on what you do between appointments.
Spondylolisthesis means one vertebra has shifted forward relative to the one beneath it. In the neck this is less common than in the lower back, and it usually results from degenerative change in the facet joints or from an earlier injury.
What it feels like
Neck pain and stiffness, often with a sense of instability — a feeling that the neck needs supporting or will "give". Symptoms may extend into the shoulders or arms if a nerve root is irritated by the narrowed space.
How physiotherapy helps
Where a segment has lost some of its passive stability, the muscular system has to take up the slack. Treatment focuses on:
- Strengthening the deep neck flexors and extensors that stabilise individual segments
- Building endurance in the shoulder girdle so the neck is not doing the work alone
- Avoiding end-range extension positions that stress the slipped segment
- Careful hands-on treatment of the stiff segments above and below — manipulation of the affected level itself is avoided
- Ergonomic changes to reduce sustained loading
How long it takes
A strengthening programme runs eight to twelve weeks, followed by ongoing maintenance. The slip itself does not reverse; the aim is a neck that is stable and comfortable despite it.
When to seek help urgently
Progressive arm weakness, hand clumsiness or unsteadiness walking need prompt medical assessment.
Medically reviewed by Pooja Tyagi, BPT, MPT, Orthopaedic Physiotherapy · Last reviewed September 2026