Physical Therapy After Back Surgery
Back and spinal surgery is a major surgery that requires intensive post-surgical rehabilitation to obtain the most benefit from the surgery. Physical therapists help back surgery patients improve alignment, balance, gait, mobility, flexibility, and strength after surgery safely and gradually. Today, we are highlighting one of our back surgery patients and the gradual improvements she has made over the course of one month of physical therapy post-surgery.
Low Back Surgery
Back surgery is often the last step for severe cases of back pain after other options like physical therapy and injections have been exhausted. There are several types of low back surgery, including a lumbar fusion, a lumbar laminectomy, and a lumbar discectomy.
A lumbar fusion stabilizes the vertebrae of the spine by inserting a bone graft between the vertebrae, creating less of a chance of disc slippage. A laminectomy removes the bone of the vertebrae to allow the nerves more space and relieve pressure on the nerves that were causing pain, numbness, or weakness. A discectomy removes a piece of the disc or the entire disc that is placing pressure on the nerves to reduce pain radiating down the leg due to a disc bulge or herniation.
Following surgery, it is recommended that the patient gently walk for the first 6 weeks post-surgery and refrain from twisting, bending or lifting objects greater than five pounds. After the initial 6 weeks, back surgery patients are sent to outpatient physical therapy for continued rehabilitation.
Physical Therapy for Back Surgery
Physical therapy after back surgery is critical to regain strength, improve flexibility and range of motion, heal properly, and retrain the muscles of the back to provide stability to the spine. The physical therapist works together with the spine surgeon to ensure the best possible care for back surgery patients. The therapist designs a treatment program tailored to the needs of the patient, specific to their surgery, body type and the condition of their tissues.
Physical therapy treatment involves pain management modalities, manual therapy, and a gradual therapeutic exercise program. Exercise after spinal surgery is necessary to address fatigue, help patients return to daily activities safely, avoid re-injury, and help the body heal. The exercise program includes weight-bearing exercises to gently strengthen the back muscles and structure, body ball exercises to loosen tight muscles and make hips more limber, aerobic exercise to improve conditioning and blood flow to spine, and resistance exercises to strengthen back and core muscles.
Benefits of physical therapy post-back surgery include:
Movement activates the muscles that support the back and spine: Following surgery, the smaller muscles in the surgical area may become inhibited. These muscles play a key role in maintaining the spine’s stability. The physical therapist can help patients gently and gradually exercise to get those muscles functioning properly and reduce stress on the surgical site.
Gentle stretching promotes flexibility: Range of motion can be lost and the body can become stiff during a period of inactivity. Gently stretching the core, trunk, and back muscles can make movement easier, ease stiffness, and improve back mobility.
Activity encourages blood flow that can help the body heal: Movement and activity promote blood circulation that brings oxygen and nutrients to the surgical site. Lack of oxygen can delay the healing of tissues and healthy bone growth which are needed during the recovery period.
The physical therapist evaluates the patient’s body movements when walking, standing, and transferring to assess improper movement patterns, address them, and improve gait, balance, and overall mobility as the patient heals.
Mangiarelli Rehabilitation Back Surgery Patient Progress
Back surgery physical therapy patient Delores began working with our physical therapist Jen in September after undergoing spinal fusion surgery in early July. The first half of the video shows Delores when she first began physical therapy in September after back surgery. The second half of the video shows her progress in October, after one month in physical therapy.
Congratulations to Delores on her progress! It is our privilege to accompany her and all of our patients through the recovery progress and celebrate each improvement during rehabilitation.
Music by Scott Holmes via Creative Commons
Video & Blog Shared with Written Permission of Mangiarelli Rehabilitation Patient
In the video below, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation patient, Delores, continues to show impressive improvement in walking ability after two months of physical therapy:
In the video below, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation patient, Delores, continues to show incredible improvement in walking ability after six months of physical therapy:
Music: New Horizons
Musician: Rafael Krux
Site: https://filmmusic.io/song/5458-new-horizons-
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
