Often, medical professionals will treat scoliosis with physical therapy and other treatments before opting for surgery. However, some patients may decide to have surgery for their scoliosis. 

Scoliosis is a spinal condition, and it occurs when your spine develops a sideways curve. This condition often affects children, yet it’s also found in older adults. One medical study reveals that 68% of the people over 60 had scoliosis. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that only about 33,000 people have scoliosis surgery annually. 

If you do require scoliosis surgery, physical therapy can be helpful afterward. One technique that scoliosis surgery recovery plans often use is therapeutic exercises. Here are two exercises your physical therapist may have you do following your surgery: 

Standing lat stretch

Purpose: This physical therapy exercise is designed to improve lat muscle flexibility after scoliosis surgery. 

How to do the standing lat stretch: 

1. Stand near your kitchen sink. 
2. Straighten your arms and grab onto the front side of the sink with an overhand grip. You can also use a stable piece of furniture or a banister for this stretch. 
3. Slowly squat down while keeping your neck and head as straight as possible. 
4. Stop when you feel a stretch in your lats. 
5. Hold this stretch for eight to 10 seconds. 
6. Rest for a few seconds.
7. Repeat the stretch until you’ve done it three to five times. 

Standing low row

Purpose: This physical therapy exercise can help improve lat strength after a scoliosis surgery. 

How to do the standing low row: 

1. Loop an exercise band around the handle of a closed door. 
2. Grasp the ends of the band, and stand far enough away from the door that the band has no slack with your feet shoulder width apart. 
3. Hold your upper arms close to your sides.
4. Bend your elbows so that they form a 90-degree angle. 
5. Slowly tighten your lats and pull your elbows straight backward until you feel a strong contraction. 
6. Hold this contraction for two or three seconds. 
7. Slowly allow your arms to return to the starting position. 
8. Repeat the exercise until you’ve done five to 10 repetitions. 

Find effective physical therapy after scoliosis surgery at Franklin Rehab

Seeking physical therapy that can benefit you after scoliosis surgery? Our team at Franklin Rehabilitation is primed to help you find the care you’re looking for. We offer post-surgical rehab for many different types of surgery, and our physical therapists are adept at building personalized therapy plans designed to meet your post-surgery needs. Even better, we offer pre-surgical rehab that can benefit you during and after your surgery. 

Contact our team today for more information about our surgical rehab services or to schedule an initial appointment.