Back and Spine Health
If you’re a generally active person, you know the importance of physical activity and exercise to keep your muscles strong and your body healthy. Engaging in regular physical activity helps to prevent various side effects of being inactive, such as blood clotting (DVT) and pneumonia.
However, after undergoing a major surgery like spine surgery, you may wonder whether you should resume exercise. As always, your spine surgeon in Las Vegas, NV will have the best guidance for each patient.
It’s important to talk to your physician about how you’re feeling after the procedure. Physical therapy is highly recommended as it will help you regain mobility much faster because you will be closely monitored and guided by trained professionals. You can also begin a simple at-home exercise routine to help you get active again.
Give Your Body Time To Heal
A major part of the body that must heal before you can resume exercise is the skin. Typically, depending on the scope and nature of the procedure, the skin could take anywhere between 1 or 2 weeks to heal. It’s advisable to limit your physical activity during this period, so that the skin can regain its full flexibility. Walking is an excellent form of exercise during this period, especially if you had a minimally invasive or microscopic surgery, involving small incisions.
The remaining healing process occurs in parts of the body that are not visible: in the muscles and tissues underneath the skin. The bone is the most crucial part that will require a significant amount of time to completely fuse or heal. This could take anywhere between 6 and 9 months. Your physician will do a CT-scan or X-ray of the affected area to see if the bone is fully healed.
Maintain Spine Precaution
There are certain precautions that you need to take when exercising after undergoing spine surgery:
- Don’t put excessive pressure or strain on your back and neck
- No twisting
- No bending
- No heavy-lifting
As you exercise, always remember the following words, “maintain spine precaution”. This means no heavy lifting, being, twisting or putting too much strain on your back and neck. If you got a spinal fusion to support the spinal cord, the area will have to be firm in order to heal properly. As you gradually resume your exercise, pay close attention to movements cause motion along your back and neck.
Explore Low-Impact Exercise
Some exercise of easy low-impact exercise you can do:
- Aquatic therapy
- Walking
- Yoga
- Stretching
Low-impact exercises are perfect because they allow you to stay active while avoiding putting too much pressure on the affected area. Stretching is a popular low-impact exercise among spine surgery patients. Yoga is also good, but you need to ask your physician for approval. Aquatic therapy is another amazing low-impact physical activity that involves exercising in a pool where the water support your body weight, thus eliminating the need for you to use your back as you can use your feet and hands instead.
Exercising after spine surgery is not only possible – it’s highly recommended. Make sure to consult your spine surgeon in Las Vegas, NV or physician before engaging in any form of physical activity.
