Rehabilitation is a vital part of your care and, most important, your recovery. Carefully following recommendations from your Norton Leatherman Spine doctor, nurses and therapists can help you get back to normal activities as soon as possible. Each person is different, and depending on your surgery, your individual rehabilitation program may be different. Some programs include ongoing rehabilitation after you leave the hospital.
The physical therapy staff will begin working with you soon after your surgery to improve your ability to move. They will teach you an exercise program, how to move in bed, how to get in and out of bed, and how to walk safely. An occupational therapist may be involved in your care to teach you how to do everyday activities like dressing, bathing, using the toilet and getting around your house.
These exercises will help improve strength and flexibility before your surgery as well as prepare you for therapy after surgery. Do these exercises 10 times each, two or three times a day with each leg. You may hold onto a countertop so you do not lose your balance.
Keeping your back straight, slowly bend your knees, lowering your pelvis over your ankles about 6 inches, then return to a standing position (do not lean forward).
While standing on one leg, slowly raise your other leg out to the side without moving your trunk. Keep your toes pointed forward.over your ankles about 6 inches, then return to a standing position (do not lean forward).
Slowly bring one foot up behind you toward the buttocks, then slowly lower your foot back to the floor. Make sure you keep your knees side by side.
While holding onto the counter, slowly raise yourself up onto your toes. Slowly lower your heels back to the floor and repeat.ankles about 6 inches, then return to a standing position (do not lean forward).
Norton Leatherman Spine is a combined team of orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons from Norton Neuroscience Institute and pain management specialists who provide care for adults and children from Louisville and Southern Indiana, as well as from across the region, nation and world.
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