A Charite disc replacement may be necessary if you have damaged one or more of the bones of your spine beyond repair. Your spine contains 33 bones, called vertebrae. Your vertebrae can become damaged through traumatic injury or by degenerative disease. Normally, your vertebrae can heal by itself over time. However, if your vertebrae has sustained enough damage so that it is unable to heal on its own, the bone may need to be replaced completely. Charite discs are artificial discs that are surgically inserted in place of a damaged vertebrae. After surgery, physical therapy is necessary to help rebuild damaged muscle, ligaments, and tendons as well as regain range of motion and return you to normal daily activities. Physical therapy after Charite disc replacement typically progresses in four phases.
Phase 1
In the first phase of physical therapy following a Charite disc replacement, controlling inflammation, swelling, and pain is the priority. To accomplish this, you may be prescribed cryotherapy, or cold therapy, to reduce inflammation following surgery. This involves either placing cold ice packs or cold circulating water over the area of your spine that has been operated on. The ice will reduce acute pain and inflammation as a result of your spinal surgery. This phase may last several days, or until the localized swelling in your back has adequately subsided.
Phase 2
Once the inflammation and swelling in your back has been reduced, you may progress to the second phase of physical therapy following Charite disc replacement surgery. In this phase, you may begin to perform a series of specific range of motion exercises. These exercises involve stretching in various ways that increase your range of motion in your spine following surgery. Your physical therapist will design a range of motion and flexibility program that is specific to your needs based on the area of your spine that is affected.
Phase 3
Once you have begun to regain adequate range of motion in your spine, you may begin the third phase of physical therapy. In this phase, your physical therapist may prescribe a resistance training program that is specifically designed to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Following back surgery, the muscles that attach to your vertebrae that are responsible for spinal mobility may have been damaged or atrophied. These muscles must be rebuilt in order for you to be able to return to daily activity. Your physical therapist may employ devices such as resistance bands, free weights, or weight training machines in such ways that are designed to rebuild the muscles of your back that need to be strengthened.
Phase 4
After you have regained adequate range of motion in your spine and rebuilt the muscles that support spinal stability and motion, you may return to normal daily activity. However, your physical therapist may prescribe a long-term therapy program, which is the fourth phase of physical therapy following a Charite disc replacement. A long-term therapy program can last between six months and two years and typically involves a continuation of some of the range of motion and resistance training exercises you performed in the second and third phases of physical therapy. This will ensure that your back remains flexible and strong in order to support your spine following disc replacement surgery.
References
- "Introduction To Physical Therapy"; Michael A. Pagliarulo; 2011
- "Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques"; Carolyn Kisner and Lynn Colby; 2007
