Post-corpectomy Physiotherapy Exercises

The spinal cord lies within your backbone and with all going well performs its functions undisturbed. However, in a condition called spinal stenosis, bony spurs growing from within your backbone gradually compress the spinal cord resulting in a painful condition called myelopathy. Surgeons perform a corpectomy to decompress your spinal cord by removing the impinging bony spurs. After corpectomy surgery, simple exercises can improve muscle tone, neck stability and general well-being.

Massage

Because of the pain associated with cervical stenosis or narrowing, your range of movement may reduce as a method of pain avoidance. Unfortunately, your flexibility reduces and your gait could be affected. Again, corpectomy surgery itself carries the risk of continued pain and muscle spasm. That's why physical therapists use massage to aid pain relief and ease muscle spasm after corpectomy while still in hospital. They might later teach you how to safely use massage at home.

Walking

Once you have had a corpectomy, you need to maintain good heart and lung function. Physical therapists at "Active Motion Physiotherapy" recommend walking as a good form of exercise to maintain good heart and lung function after corpectomy. Walking is recognized as a good cardio exercise because it is simple, not strenuous and good for your heart, maintains good muscle tone and can help manage calories.

Cycling

Aside from walking, physical therapists at "Active Motion Physiotherapy" recommend cycling as a form of cardio exercise after corpectomy operation. As with walking, the purpose of cycling as a post-corpectomy exercise is the promotion of good heart and lung functions. Both arm and static cycling are recommended but your physical therapist will determine the better option.

Muscle Strengh and Gait

Cervical myelopathy results from spinal cord compression -- the conditions that warranted your undergoing the corpectomy operation might have been as painful as to limit your movement and affect your gait. Though corpectomy eases the pressure off your spinal cord through the process of decompression, muscle function and strength need to be restored through muscle-strengthening exercises. Gait correction exercises are also recommended if your gait is affected.