Exercise after Back Surgery

When recovering from back surgery it is not uncommon to have a sore back, and a stiff back. However, creating your OWN routine for exercise after back surgery may easily lead to further back injury AND additional back pain.

Therefore...

Unless otherwise indicated by your healthcare provider, treatment, or exercise after back surgery, should not include techniques that appear on this website.

Recovering from Back Surgery

Back surgery recovery time can be affected by...

What type of back surgery was performed, were there multiple incisions, or was it minimally invasive back surgery?

What was the patient's overall health prior to surgery?

How much time and effort is the patient willing to put into a back surgery rehabilitation program and healing process?

Unfortunately, even under the best of circumstances, most patients experience some level of pain after back surgery, which is another reason why it is so important to keep your doctor involved through each step of the recovery process.

In an effort to help reduce pain, recommendations may be made for...

• over the counter or prescription pain medication
• ice therapy or heat therapy
• electrical stimulation devices, such as a TENS unit, or other back pain products
• improved sitting, standing, and laying positions

Types of Exercise after Back Surgery

Before spine surgery and during spine surgery, the back muscles and the joints in the upper, middle, or lower back can become weakened. In order to regain flexibility and mobility they often need various types of strengthening and stretching exercise.

Back exercise physical therapy, provided at a rehabilitation center, with additional exercises performed at home, often provides what is required for a full recovery after surgery.

Yes, back exercise can feel uncomfortable following a back operation, and it may seem a bit counterintuitive that exercise would be used to heal pain, BUT...

Many research reports say that appropriately prescribed physical exercise helps promote recovery after back injuries AND back surgeries. So, when your doctor recommends that you exercise after back surgery, you may wince, but long-term you will probably be better off for it!