The most common types of back surgeries include discectomy (removal of herniated disc material), laminectomy (removal of part of the vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord), and spinal fusion (joining two or more vertebrae to eliminate movement between them). According to the Mayo Clinic, these procedures are usually recommended when conservative treatments fail to alleviate symptoms​​.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate summer activities post-back surgery.

Understanding Your Recovery

Recovering from back surgery involves a careful balance of rest and activity. It’s essential to follow your surgeon’s and physical therapist’s recommendations to ensure a smooth and successful recovery. Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

Follow Your Post-Op Plan: Stick to the prescribed physical therapy exercises and attend all follow-up appointments. A physical therapist might prescribe at-home exercises such as gentle walking, pelvic tilts, leg slides, and bridge exercises to aid in the recovery and strengthen the back muscles following surgery.

Listen to Your Body: Pain and discomfort are signals to slow down or modify your activities. If you experience sharp pain, numbness, tingling, increased weakness, unusual swelling, or loss of bladder or bowel control after back surgery, stop exercising immediately and consult your healthcare provider.

Gradual Progression: Increase your activity level gradually to avoid setbacks.

Safe Summer Activities

Engaging in light, low-impact activities can be beneficial for your recovery. Here are some summer activities that can be enjoyable and safe post-back surgery:

Walking:

Walking is a low-impact exercise that promotes circulation and aids in recovery.

Choose flat, even surfaces such as parks or walking trails.

Start with short walks and gradually increase the duration.

Swimming:

Swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise that reduces strain on the back.

Opt for gentle strokes like the backstroke or sidestroke.

Avoid strenuous swimming activities and high-impact water sports.

Yoga and Stretching:

Gentle yoga and stretching can improve flexibility and reduce muscle tension.

Focus on poses that don’t strain your back, such as child’s pose or cat-cow stretch.

Avoid any movements that involve twisting or excessive bending.

Cycling:

Cycling on a stationary bike can be a safe way to stay active.

Ensure the bike is adjusted correctly to maintain good posture.

Start with short sessions and monitor your body’s response.

Tips for Outdoor Activities

When engaging in outdoor activities, consider the following tips to ensure your safety and comfort:

Stay Hydrated:

Drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather, to prevent dehydration.

Carry a water bottle with you during activities.

Wear Supportive Footwear:

Choose shoes with good arch support and cushioning to reduce impact on your back.

Avoid flip-flops or sandals that offer little support.

Use Sunscreen and Protective Clothing:

Protect your skin from sunburn by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat.

Opt for lightweight, breathable clothing to stay cool.

Avoid Prolonged Sitting:

If you’re attending outdoor events or traveling, take breaks to stand and stretch.

Use a lumbar roll or cushion for added support if sitting for extended periods.

Modify Activities as Needed:

Don’t hesitate to modify or skip activities that cause discomfort or pain.

Communicate with your physical therapist about any concerns or questions.

Activities to Avoid

While it’s important to stay active, certain activities can be risky post-back surgery. Avoid the following to prevent complications:

High-Impact Sports:

Sports that involve running, jumping, or sudden movements can strain your back.

Heavy Lifting:

Avoid lifting heavy objects or engaging in activities that require excessive bending or twisting.

Intense Cardio Exercises:

High-intensity exercises like running or aerobics can put undue stress on your back.

Conclusion

Recovering from back surgery during the summer doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. By following your recovery plan and choosing safe, low-impact activities, you can enjoy the season while promoting your healing process. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new activity, and listen to your body to ensure a smooth and successful recovery.

Physical Therapist in Everett, Snohomish County

Engaging in physical therapy is crucial for successful recovery. It helps reduce pain, strengthen muscles, minimize scar tissue, and improve joint mobility and overall stability. Patients who adhere to a structured physical therapy program generally report better outcomes than those who do not​. If you’re in the Everett area of Washington, we’d love to see you at our physical therapy office—we’re a top rated provider!

Embrace the summer with a mindful approach to your post-surgery recovery, and enjoy the benefits of staying active and healthy.

Sources:

Verywellhealth.com
mayoclinic.org
openai.com

Although no two back surgeries are alike, there are things you can do to prepare before and after surgery to help ensure a successful outcome. Here are some tips to help you heal after back surgery.

Why Do You Need Back Surgery?

One common reason for back surgery is a herniated disc, also known as a “slipped disc.” Herniated discs occur when the disc’s jelly-like soft center bulges out through a tear in the disc’s outer layer, which inflames and irritates the nerves in your spine. Surgery like a microdiscectomy can remove the small fragments of disc, bone and ligament to free the nerve.

Another reason you may need back surgery is spinal stenosis, which is a condition that occurs when the spaces in your spine narrow, causing the bones to press on the nerves. Spinal stenosis can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness. Surgery can widen the spaces in your spine, relieving the pressure on the nerves.

Have realistic expectations about your healing process.

If you’re expecting to go back to doing your everyday routine right after receiving back surgery, you’ll be disappointed to learn recovery is far longer. Sometimes, a full recovery can be up to three months. During that time; your goal is to strengthen your back muscles again, which means lots of walking and building of the spine muscles.

You will likely need to take some time off from work to recover. Depending on which type of back surgery you receive will determine how long it takes. For example, if the back surgery is a fusion and laminectomy, the total recovery time could be up to a year.

Your doctor may also have you referred to a physical therapist to put you on a physical therapy regimen.

Most people feel better after a few weeks and can return to normal activities from a few weeks to a few months. However, it is essential to remember that everybody heals differently. Some people may take longer to recover than others, and recovery times will vary depending on the type of surgery.

Be patient and give your body the time it needs to heal properly.

You may also need to modify your activities and how you do things to avoid putting too much strain on your back. For example, you must take it easy after back surgery and not push yourself too hard. Instead, focus on gentle activities that will help you regain strength and flexibility. Post-back surgery exercises include walking, swimming, or doing yoga.

Your doctor may also want you to try the following:

• Riding on a stationary bike with a straight spine between 20 to 30 minutes
• ball exercises
• squats

If you start to feel pain, stop what you’re doing and rest.

Follow your doctor’s orders and attend all follow-up appointments.

Your doctor will likely give you specific instructions on caring for your incision and what activities you should avoid in the first few weeks. You must follow these instructions. Additionally, you will need to take it easy for a few weeks and allow your body to heal, avoiding strenuous activity, lifting heavy objects, and bending over.

You will likely have a follow-up appointment a few weeks after your surgery. At this appointment, your doctor will check on your healing and give you any additional instructions. You must attend this appointment so your doctor can ensure that you are healing correctly.

Conclusion

Recovering from back surgery can be a long and challenging process. However, you can do certain things to help ensure a successful recovery:

1. Following your surgeon’s instructions and attending all follow-up appointments is essential.
2. Keep your back as mobile as possible, and do some gentle exercises to strengthen your back muscles.
3. Be patient and give yourself time to heal. Back surgery is a big deal.

Physical Therapy After Back Surgery in Everett, Wa

We offer physical therapy for back injury rehabilitation here in Everett. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about our therapy. We accept most insurance. Call 425-347-8614 for more information or to setup your appointment.

It is crucial for a casualty victim to be evaluated for physical therapy as soon as possible after a car accident because severe symptoms of body trauma can bring additional pain and mobility issues as time progresses.

Symptoms of possible injury to be aware of are:

• Neck, arm, upper back stiffness
• Numbing in arms, neck, hands, and upper back
• Nausea, headache, and dizziness
• Hip, lower back, and knee pain
• Foot, ankle, toe pain or numbness
• Any ache or pain not previously felt before the accident

Multiple variations of these symptoms can contribute to an automobile accident victim’s pain or mobility problems. A casualty victim receiving the appropriate care can limit future suffering.

It is important for the injured person to receive a one-on-one and head-to-toe analysis with a specialist to evaluate and prepare a custom treatment program. Each individual involved with any accident is unique and requires an exclusive path to healing.

Different Methods of Physical Therapy

Physical therapists or chiropractors may incorporate different methods into a program to treat a car accident injury.

Manual therapy may be used by a therapist to adjust and mobilize joints. This type of therapy will decrease scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and allow the tissue surrounding the joints to heal as quickly as possible.

A therapist often uses specialized equipment to implement heat, cold, and electrotherapy to the affected area. This also reduces inflammation and allows more movement and less pressure to the affected area.

Other physical therapy treatments may include acupuncture, ultrasound, aquatic therapy, and intramuscular stimulation. The purpose of these techniques is to help relieve muscle tightness and spasms to decrease recovery time.

The therapist may discuss and coach custom exercises to allow patient control and daily therapy. Exercising can reduce a patient’s joint pain, build muscle strength, and maintain flexibility of the spine.

A therapist may also develop specialized or customized braces or slings appropriate to support the patient’s affected area. Sometimes the added support relieves the pressure and allows faster healing of the patient’s affected joint.

Automobile accident victims need to be worry-free about lasting symptoms and their future health. Some insurance companies are limited in their coverage of an auto accident injury, so an accurate accounting of needs following an accident is imperative.

Getting at the root cause of a patient’s injury as quickly as possible is where a physical therapist’s expertise will be invaluable. Not only will a patient’s healing process of strengthening or stabilizing the affected area begin, but the therapist will be able to assist in efficiently managing any future pain or dysfunction resulting from the accident.

Please contact Everett Spine & Rehab for your car accident rehabilitation: 425-347-8614.

Programs and resources available for pain management are varied depending on the root cause of the pain. Carefully considering which route to take may lead to help from either a chiropractor or a physical therapist.

A physical therapist may recommend a routine of exercises. A Chiropractor may suggest spinal adjustments.

Deciding what resource to seek out or what strategy to take is an individual preference. Other deciding factors may be the stage of the injury or the pain level.

In the United States, research estimates that back pain costs up to $200 billion a year. Patients seldom address the causes of the pain, and the discomfort is often just masked with medications.

Chiropractic care and physical therapy are alternative treatments for pain medications and muscle relaxants. Both options are worth exploring before deciding on the last resort of surgery.

Both Chiropractors and Physical Therapists analyze their patient’s overall health issues and how the spine, joint health, and posture affect the pain levels felt by the patient.

Physical Therapists tend to be affiliated with a medical practice or hospital. Chiropractors are generally independent and operate an individual office.

A Physical Therapist’s treatments usually focus on joint therapy and function using targeted exercises to adjust the movement.

Chiropractors are usually focused on the whole person and use a hands-on approach to align the spine. The Chiropractor designs a healing plan for their patients considering a patient’s diet, exercise, and stress management.

Both Chiropractors and Physical Therapists work with analysis equipment like ultrasound, laser therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation.

When to Get Help for Joint Pain

Emergency care is necessary if the injury results from an automobile accident, fall, or sports activity.

Chiropractors and Physical Therapists may be able to bring relief to the chronic hip or joint pain. If the pain causes weakness, numbness in one or both legs or arms, and is bothersome at night while lying down or movement during the day.

Enduring pain is not an option for patients. Seeking help from Chiropractic and Physical Therapy sources outside of medication management or surgery may be an alternative worth exploring. At Everett Spine & Rehab, we offer non-invasive and drug-free treatment options for patients. Please reach out to us to learn more or to book your appointment: 425-347-8614.

You use your rotator cuff when you put away the dishes, swing a baseball bat or tennis racket, or even putting on a jacket – so it should be no surprise that rotator cuff injury is the most common cause of shoulder pain.

What happens if you injure your rotator cuff? How would you even know if you do? Here’s what you need to know about rotator cuff injuries.

Rotator Cuff Injury: Causes

Rotator cuff injuries vary in severity, from minor degeneration (which causes a dull, aching sensation) to tears (which can be much more painful). There is no one specific cause behind rotator cuff injury, but there are a few facts that can increase your risk. These include:

Age: Your rotator cuff degenerates naturally over time, and people over 60 are most at risk of being injured.

Occupation: Landscapers, construction workers, or anyone with a job that requires repetitive arm motions (particularly overhead) will lead to faster and greater damage to the rotator cuff.

Family history: Like many physical conditions, your genetic makeup does play a role in how durable your rotator cuff will be. Rotator cuff injuries tend to occur more often among certain families.

Lifestyle: You might have a greater risk of rotator cuff injury if you engage in certain lifestyle behaviors. For example, individuals who are particularly active (especially with sports like tennis or baseball) or even people who sleep on the same side every night put greater strain on their rotator cuffs and can suffer injuries more easily.

Symptoms

Every day, your body gives you little signs that help you effectively care for it. When you need to eat, you feel hungry. When you hurt yourself, you feel the pain. But how do you know when a pain in your shoulder is something more serious, like a rotator cuff injury?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms associated with rotor cuff injuries include:

• A dull ache in the shoulder, severe enough to disturb sleep
• Difficulty reaching behind you (for example, while combing your hair)
• Weakness in the arm

These symptoms are clear signs that your doctor should evaluate your shoulder and check for rotator cuff damage.

Rotator Cuff Injury Treatments

Once your doctor has confirmed your rotator cuff injury, it’s time to start thinking about treatment. While surgery to repair or replace the tendons is available for the most severe cases, most people will be able to recover from their injuries with a simple regimen of ice, rest, and physical therapy.

A physical therapist or chiropractor can guide you through exercises that will strengthen your shoulder muscles and help you restore flexibility. Before long, you’ll be using your shoulders without pain once again! Look to Everett Spine & Rehab for a complete one-stop shop for all things rehab regarding injury. We not only have physical therapists on deck, but chiropractors as well. You’ll feel assured that your health is in good hands–call us at 425-347-8614 to schedule your appointment or stop by our Everett chiropractic and physical therapy office. Walk-ins are welcome!

Some Causes of Workplace Hand Injuries

Many workplace hand injuries are categorized as Repetitive Strain Injuries, or RSI. Typing, using a computer mouse, or swiping items at the grocery store are examples of motions that can cause an RSI injury. Symptoms of RSI include burning, aching, and shooting pain as well as tremors, clumsiness, and numbness. Fatigue or lack of strength as well as chronically cold hands are also symptoms of RSI. Leaving these symptoms untreated may eventually cause them to become constant and have longer periods of pain. Untreated symptoms can also develop swelling in the affected area, which can last for several months.

What is RSI?

When tendonitis of the hand is caused by repeatedly pinching or twisting something with the thumb such as lifting a coffee mug or peeling vegetables, it is also considered an RSI, an umbrella term including carpal tunnel syndrome and other overuse injuries. Defined as being damage to muscles, tendons, nerves, and joints through repeated micro-trauma, adequate rest is crucial. After a hand injury, many people try to determine on their own how much rest and how much exercise is needed. This can be harmful and prevent appropriate healing. Following the care of a physical therapist is a responsible approach to healing a hand injury correctly.

There are many ways physical therapy can treat an RSI hand injury. Modalities to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, decrease pain, and reeducate muscles all support hand injury healing. The most important approach of physical therapy, however, is manual, hands-on techniques and exercise instruction. This can increase muscular flexibility, joint range of movement, muscular strength, and endurance. This type of care is different for each injury. These individualized plans need to be monitored closely and progressed slowly by a physical therapist.

It is important to treat an RSI in the early stages. While rest is a crucial factor in healing, stretching exercises such as the prayer stretch, clutching stretch, and finger pull stretch will allow your muscles and tendons to become looser and your hands to regain more movement. A physical therapist will know which exercises are appropriate for your specific injury. Following the guidance and treatment of a physical therapist is crucial in the process of regaining full hand capability. Contact Everett Spine & Rehab and let one of our physical therapists treat your hand: 425-347-8614. Walk-ins are welcome. Find us at 927 128th St SW Ste B, Everett, WA 98204.