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Exercises After Back Surgery

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Back Surgery

It is important to realize the impact conservative back surgery will have on you and the extent of rehabilitation required to resume your regular day to day routine and activities.

There are various procedures performed depending on the area of the spinal column and the condition you are suffering from.  These can range from repairing a herniated or ruptured disc to a spinal fusion.

Should you decide to pursue conservative or traditional back surgery, all procedures have a high risk ratio and a lengthy recovery time and most often involve a stay in the hospital.

Once you have determined that surgery is the best alternative for you, it is important to explore the different methods of surgery available to you. With medical technology evolving at such a rapid speed, there are now non-invasive surgeries that have a very high success ratio, with a short recovery and no hospital stay.

Exercise After Back Surgery

Physical therapy is a key component to recovering from back surgery. Often back surgery has been performed due to the back being weak with an end result of damaged discs, vertebrae and/or nerve(s) and nerve roots.
Patients may have sought physical therapy during a bout of pain or discomfort, however as the condition worsened, the exercises being performed may not have been enough to strengthen and heal the damaged area. If you have not had any physical therapy prior to your back surgery, your doctor will recommend you meet with a physical therapist and commence an exercise program designed to facilitate your healing. The outcome of this will be a stronger back by incorporating flexibility and strengthening exercises.

Studies have shown that patients who start exercising early after back surgery heal faster and most patients are able to return to their normal day to day activities and exercise program sooner than those who don’t. The exercises should be easy and the most effective is walking. The reason for this is that walking is gentle on the back. Patients should start with a short distance and gradually increase their distance and speed as the healing progressively improves. Should patients experience any discomfort, often applying ice after the exercise will provide comfort as well as taking an over the counter pain medication, such as Tylenol or Advil.  Your doctor can discuss your desired goal and once you have reached that goal, you can increase your speed and/or distance.

Some patients who may have incorporated running in their regular physical activity routine, may wish to work back to the level they were at before their back surgery. It is important to note that running places repetitive stress on the back and may have attributed to the cause of the injury.

Before rebuilding your strength and endurance to run, it is important to discuss this with your doctor. The medical field is split on whether patients who have undergone back surgery should incorporate and/or resume running as part of their physical activity regime. Of course, the major deciding factor is the injury and surgery performed. Typically, if the lumbar spine was damaged and repaired, some doctors are of the view that if the cervical and middle spine is healthy and not suffering from any damage, with proper diet, stretching and strengthening of the core, running would be an acceptable form of exercise. Other doctors are of the view that the stress running places on the back, would undo any repair to the spine and discs and therefore should be avoided.