Post-operatively, patients are usually discharged from the hospital within five to seven days.

Physiotherapy at Skill Builders can begin as soon as your surgeon allows. Generally children are able to progress quickly after surgery so that they can return to routine daily activities, including returning to school. The surgeon will set out any specific activity restrictions for your child.

The focus of our treatment at Skill Builders after surgery for scoliosis will be to decrease any pain that remains from the surgical procedure itself, and to prescribe exercises that regain and maintain the mobility and strength of the back, shoulders, neck and hips. Core stability exercises will be of particular importance as these exercises ensure that the body has a strong central system to work from.  We will also assist your child in learning to maintain a new normal posture as a result of the new position of their spine.

At the first few appointments post-surgically your child’s physiotherapist may use modalities such as ice and heat to assist with your child’s pain.  In some cases, and depending on where your child’s pain is, electrical modalities such as ultrasound or interferential current may also be used. Massage to the muscles or other hands-on techniques such as gentle traction to the joints may also be part of your child’s initial physiotherapy treatment.

Next your child’s therapist will prescribe a series of stretching and strengthening exercises that focus on the core area, the back muscles, the shoulders, the hips, buttocks, back of the legs, and the neck. These exercises are designed to keep the muscles strong and flexible so that they reduce the pressure and pull on the spine and inserted rod. Extension and rotation exercises will be included in your child’s program as these types of exercises are particularly useful when treating the effects of scoliosis. As able, resistance in the form of exercise bands, free weights, or weight machines may be used. Due to the muscles imbalance that would have been present prior to the surgery, some muscles will be stronger or tighter than others, so again, do not be surprised if your therapist prescribes more exercises for one side than the other to combat this imbalance.

As discussed under non-surgical treatment, maintaining or increasing your child’s lung capacity will be crucial now that the scoliotic curve has been corrected. Deep breathing exercises along with cardiovascular exercises will be prescribed.
The final component to our treatment after surgery to correct a scoliotic curve will be education regarding maintaining proper posturing. It is often difficult for children to understand the importance of posture at such a young age, so frequent reminders by you, as the parent, will be important. Maintaining upright posturing as often as possible during all activities of daily living will assist in decreasing any stress put on the surgical rod as well as the muscles as they work to support the new position of the spine. Your physiotherapist at Skill Builders will demonstrate the optimal posturing that your child should work to achieve.

Generally the rehabilitation after spinal surgery to correct a scoliosis responds very well to the physiotherapy we provide at Skill Builders.  If for some reason, however, your child’s pain continues longer than it should or their therapy is not progressing as your physiotherapist would expect, we will ask you to follow-up with your child’s surgeon to confirm that the spine is tolerating the rehabilitation well and to ensure that there are no complications that may be impeding your child’s recovery.

Portions of this document copyright MMG, LLC.

Skill Builders provides services for physiotherapy in Barrie.