Of all the different kinds of surgical operations, such as arthroscopic knee surgery, posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and arthroscopic shoulder surgery, recovery after back surgery could be one of the most painful processes.
Your back is what supports your entire body, from your arms, to your legs, to all of the major nerves in your body. So, a proper back rehabilitation program will be critical to getting back on your feet as fast as possible.
Here are some common back rehabilitation exercises you will likely have to do in physical therapy clinics.
- Cat Stretch. This will mainly be to give your back the stretch that it needs after several weeks of immobility. You will go down on all fours, and start to push your stomach inward, consequently raising your back up toward the ceiling. You should feel your back arching. You can repeat this exercise several times until you feel you have sufficiently stretched out your back.
- Leg Raises. This will help you increase the strength in your core muscles, and your lower back. Lie down, and slowly lift your feet in an arcing motion up toward the ceiling, and then lower them down gradually. You can keep doing this for as long as you feel comfortable.
- Rolls. To get your hips back in the motion, you will also want to dive into some hip rolling action. For this stretch, you can lie down on your back with your legs bent, feet flat on the floor. Then, slowly lower you knees to one side and allow the stretch in your lower back and hips. Return back to center, and roll to the other side.
Before you try these back rehabilitation exercises at home, be sure to consult with your physical therapist. If you get the go-ahead, you may recover faster than you expected. Visit here for more information.