Spine Fusion Recovery Exercises

Spinal fusion surgery helps treat pain in the spine by fusing damaged vertebrae in the spine. While it eliminates pain, it makes it difficult to move for at least a few months. Pain medicines will take away any excess pain, but during those months the spine and back muscles can atrophy. Exercises can strengthen your back and speed your healing.

Static Exercises

• For the first six weeks after your doctor says it's OK to exercise, perform only static exercises. These are designed to work your spine while moving the trunk and spine as little as possible. Pelvic twists make an excellent starting exercise. Start by lying on your back with your knees bent. Slowly tilt the right side of your body to the left, lifting your shoulder off the ground at least 3 inches. Lower yourself to the ground and repeat with the opposite side. Five of these should be enough. Next, stand in place and march by lifting your legs 3 to 4 inches above the floor. Don't let your pelvic muscles move while you march. Do this for one minute. Next, lie on your back and form a "bridge" with your body by raising your hips off the floor, keeping your shoulders and hips straight. Flip over to lie on your belly and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Raise your head and shoulders slightly off the floor and keep looking at the ground. When finished with five of these, raise one leg at a time without bending your knees. Five of these for each leg should be enough.

Dynamic Exercises

• After about six weeks, begin dynamic exercises. These will start to work the trunk and the spine more actively. Start by lying on the floor with your knees bent. Bend your trunk up by raising your head. Turn one shoulder and your head toward the opposite hip for a few inches. Hold for five seconds and then lower. Lift the opposite shoulder and alternate for five times a side. Get on your hands and knees and raise one arm in the air and lifting the other leg in the air. Hold for five seconds, lower, and lift the next arm and leg. Stand up and wrap a resistance band around a pole. Hold the resistance band with both hands and carefully lean back. Hold for 10 seconds. Pull the band diagonally to stretch your back in that direction and alternate sides. Use a medicine ball to work your back. Sit on the medicine ball and slowly raise one arm and the opposite leg. Hold on to something firm with another hand if you need balance. Slowly roll the ball forward until it is under your shoulders. Keep hips straight with the shoulders. Hold for 10 seconds. Lie on the medicine ball with your stomach and keep your knees on the ground. Put your arms on the ground and slowly lift one leg at a time.