Rehabilitation After Back Surgery

Do you need rehabilitation after back surgery? The simple answer is, yes. There are many different reasons why your surgeon may require rehabilitation post surgery and pending on the type of surgury, you may be looking at a few different types or rehabilitation to ensure you have proper healing, ample movement as well as an adequate plan to help manage your pain while you heal.

A lumbar laminectomy and discectomy is a surgical procedure that your orthopedic or neurologic surgeon may perform to help decrease pain and improve mobility. The procedure involves cutting away disc and bone material that may be pressing against the nerves coming from your spine.  The goals of low-back rehab after surgery are to help you regain full range of motion and strength in your spine and to help you return to your previous lifestyle. Your physical therapist will also work with you to develop an exercise program that you can do to help prevent future problems with your spine. If you have had low back surgery, here is a step-by-step guide to what you may expect to do in physical therapy.

After back surgery, you must work to maintain proper posture when you are sitting and standing. Postural control is essential as it keeps your low back in the optimal position to protect your healing lumbar discs and muscles. Your physical therapist can teach you how to sit with proper posture by using a lumbar roll to maintain your spine in the best position. The slouch-overcorrect procedure can also help you maintain proper posture for your low back. Attaining and maintaining proper posture for your low back is one of the most important things you can do to help protect your back and prevent future episodes of low-back pain.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do after a lumbar laminectomy or discectomy surgery. Why? Because walking helps to improve blood flow throughout your body. This helps to bring in oxygen and nutrients to your spinal muscles and tissues as they heal. Walking also helps to improve your cardiovascular health, keeping your heart and lungs functioning properly after lumbar surgery. The best thing about walking after back surgery is that it is an upright exercise—your spine will naturally be in a good position while you walk. This helps to protect your discs against future problems. Starting a walking program after back surgery sounds easy; you just go out and walk, right? There may be more to it, so check in with your PT to help you set up a program tailored to your specific condition.

Once you have mastered the posterior pelvic tilt, you can progress your abdominal and core strengthening program. This involves performing specific motions for your hips and legs while maintaining the pelvic neutral position. Advanced hip-strengthening exercises may be started to help you gain strength and stability in the muscles that surround your pelvic area and lower back. Your physical therapist can help you decide which exercises are best for your specific condition.

Once you have gained an improved lumbar range of motion, hip, and core strength, it may be time to start to work on specific activities to help you return to your previous level of work and recreation. Be sure to work closely with your healthcare provider and physical therapist before returning to work to ensure that it is safe for you to do and to be certain you are ready for normal work and recreational activities. Low-back surgery, such as a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy, can be difficult to properly rehab. By working with your healthcare provider and physical therapist, you can be sure to improve your range of motion, strength, and functional mobility in order to return to your previous level of function quickly and safely.