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• Physical Therapy After Surgery

Physical Therapy After Surgery

Physical therapy after back or neck surgery is an extremely important component of the recovery process and can literally be the difference between a successful and a failed back surgery. In the most basic sense, physical therapy is used to help patients regain their strength and return to normalcy, but physical therapy after back surgery or neck surgery is also effective for treating pain, reducing the chance of internal scar tissue, and limiting the chance of injuring the spine again.

It stands to reason that the specific type and duration of physical therapy varies depending on each patient and the procedure performed. Physical therapy after open back surgery, for example, will typically begin slowly and eventually progress in scope over the following months. Regardless of the procedure, doctors uniformly agree that physical therapy quickens the healing process.

Physical therapy after back surgery helps patients:

• Regain muscle strength and endurance
• Increase flexibility and mobility
• Address lingering post-operation pain and discomfort
• Bolster stamina
• Reduce the chance of internal scar tissue formation

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A physical therapist will help develop a specific exercise plan for each patient after surgery. These exercises help strengthen the spine and also correct underlying problems (such as bad posture), as well as improve coordination, fitness, and general health. In some instances, physical therapy after major back surgery may be required to help regain basic body mechanics.

The specific amount of physical therapy required after back surgery depends on the surgery and the patient. However, once patients have sufficiently addressed their pain and regained strength, they can typically continue their exercise plan at home without supervision.

It is also important to note that patients who undergo minimally invasive, outpatient procedures typically require less physical therapy than a patient who undergoes traditional open back surgery. This is one reason endoscopic surgery of the back and neck has become an increasingly popular alternative. To learn more about these procedures, and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact the award-winning staff at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) today.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.