Winston Salem Fitness

Before undergoing open back surgery it is important to understand the impact it will have on your life through rehabilitation required to return to your normal activities and daily routine.

There is a variety of procedures that can be performed to help you with back conditions depending on the area of your spine that is affected. The procedures range from fixing disc problems such as a ruptured or herniated disc to a multi-level spinal fusion.

If you decide to undergo traditional open back surgery it is important to consult your doctor about the risk and complications that may occur. Traditional open back surgery has risk factors to consider along with lengthy recovery times and the need for general anesthesia.

Exercise for back surgery recovery:

A major component to healing after back surgery is physical therapy. Back surgery is usually performed to correct damage in the discs, vertebra and nerves caused by a weak back. Although during initial conservative treatment, you may have attempted physical therapy, the damage was either already done or the therapy routine did not strengthen your muscles enough. It is important to continue to strengthen your core muscle after back surgery so that you can avoid a recurrence of the back condition (or even other back conditions). If you did not undergo physical therapy before your back surgery, you doctor will recommend you to a therapist where you will begin a program designed to strengthen your core back muscles.

There have been studies that show dedicated patients who start an exercise program early after surgery will heal faster and return to normal activities and their daily routine quicker then patients who don’t. The most effective exercise to begin with is simple walking. Walking is a relaxing easy form of exercise that is gentle on the back. You should start with a short distance and as your back begins to strengthen, gradually increase it along with your walking speed. It is important to consult with your doctor to find out what is best for you before you begin any exercise to strengthen your core.

There are a few patients that incorporated running into their exercise routine who may wish to continue running after back surgery. It is very important to note that running placing repetitive stresses on the back and may have contributed to the initial cause of back injury. Please consult your physician before running after back surgery.

Throughout the medical field opinions are split on whether a patient who has undergone back surgery should begin or resume running as a part of their daily exercise routine. Many doctors have the view that running will place unwanted stress on the spine and possibly undo any of the repair that was accomplished during the surgery.