5 Recovery Exercises After Neck Surgery (Fusion, Laminectomy, Discectomy) | Aleks Physio

Hi everyone,

In this video, I go over 5 exercises that one can perform following neck surgery, which can include fusion (ACDF and PCDF), discectomy, laminectomy or a combination thereof.

These exercises are not evidence-based, just some exercises that we would go over with our patients at the hospital following their surgery (There are more than this, but for simplicity sake, we will stick to these 5).

The premise behind these exercises is to. meant to try and improve mobility post surgery, control and possibly decrease pain, decrease stiffness and improve overall recovery.

For surgeries such as fusions, it would be quite difficult to improve range of motion as the joints are fused (depending at what level and how many levels are fused), however, these exercises can still be incorporated as part of an overall post-surgical rehab and also rehabilitation tool to help with recovery following surgery.

Exercises
1) Shoulder Shrugs - Ears to shoulder with your arms at your sides.
2) Shoulder Circles - Move shoulders in a clockwise and counterclockwise position as you bring the blades up, back down and forward).
3) Isometric Neck Flexion - Push your head into your palm as you try to bring your head down and as your hand tries to push you in the opposite direction. Meet the resistance. No movement should be occurring.
4) Isometric Neck Extension - Push your head into your palm as you try to extend your head back. No movement should be occurring. Hold.
5) Chin Tucks - Think of your chin as a drawer. Try to close the drawer and tilt your chin down. Use your finger for external cueing to guide you in the appropriate direction.

For these exercises, try to aim for 5-10 repetitions with 2-3 sets for each exercise and 1-2x/day. Work within your tolerance and range of motion. It's important to follow your surgeons protocol regarding what to do/not to do as well as your physiotherapist's recommendations.

Depending on the type of surgery, you may be required to wear a collar following surgery for a few weeks. Ask your surgeon about any other post-operative considerations.

Remember, this is not medical advice. General education only. Talk to your surgeon and Physio about specific exercises, protocols and restrictions.

I don’t own the rights to any of these photos.

Educate Empower Exercise

Aleks Physio
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