Although it is not the first thing on your mind following spine surgery, exercise can be an essential part of recovery. Before you begin any exercise program after surgery, check with your physician or physical therapist to see if you are ready. They will know the details of your case and can tailor recommendations to your needs. We have supplied some examples below to give you an idea of the exercises you may be advised to attempt within the first six months of your surgery.
At BEST Health System, we believe in a comprehensive approach to treatment. This means we encourage our patients to use a combination of conservative therapies. This can be physical therapy, medical massage, hot and cold therapy, or many others. Continue reading to learn about the benefits of exercising after surgery (with approval from your doctor)
Common Exercises after Spine Surgery
A great place to start with your post-annular tear surgery exercise routine is breathing exercises to help you relax and focus on your body. You can do this by lying flat on your back and placing one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. When you take a breath, you should ideally feel your belly rising more than your chest. If not, you are taking shallow breaths that can make performing other movements more difficult.
Your doctor may clear you to do more exercises once you have controlled your breathing. If you are recovering from surgery that addressed an annular tear in your lumbar spine, you may be instructed to perform stretches while lying flat on your back, such as:
- Gently tense and relax your abdominal and gluteal muscles in your core and buttocks.
- Performing pelvic lifts, also known as the bridge pose in yoga disciplines.
- Slowly pulling each knee into your chest to stretch your lower back muscles, hamstrings, and other muscle groups.
Treatment with BEST Health System
No matter how your doctor or physical therapist advises you to exercise, you should remember to listen to your body. Stop immediately if a particular movement feels too difficult for your current state or if an exercise hurts. Avoid pushing yourself too hard. Instead, try that movement again at a later time when your body has healed a bit more.
At BEST, our goal is to help patients find the least invasive, most effective treatment option. We offer minimally invasive surgical procedures to patients in need of surgery. Contact BEST today to learn more.
