RESUMING ACTIVITIES AFTER SCOLIOSIS SURGERY

Every scoliosis surgery patient is unique, making it impossible to have "one size fits all" guidelines about when activities can be resumed.

Each patient should follow their own physician's instructions.

In 2002, Drs. David Bradford and Paul Rubery published the results of a survey of Scoliosis Research Society members
on when they allowed children and adolescents to return to specific activities. You can read the abstract HERE.

At the 2006 Scoliosis Research Society Pre-Meeting Course,
Dr. John Sarwark
presented THIS chart with general guidelines on returning patients to specific activities.

According to scoliosis specialist Dr. Michael Neuwirth M.D., in his book "The Scoliosis Sourcebook"... When patients are discharged from the hospital, I tell them that they can do almost anything they feel comfortable doing at home. I encourage patients to set their own limits, rather than looking to me to tell them what they can and cannot do. Even though I do not restrict post-surgical activities, I recognize that the process of healing will initially impose severe limitations on what most people can do. Children generally recover from major surgery very quickly, perhaps within a month or six weeks. But most adults don't have the same resilience, and adults generally feel more pain. In general, the older the patient, the longer it will take to recover fully from major surgery and return to the activities of daily living.

When asked to estimate the amount of time a patient should wait before attempting some typical activities,
some scoliosis surgeons reported the following:

Activity	Adolescents/Teens	Adults	Adults w/Fusion to the Sacrum	Comments
Sit	Immediately	Immediately	Limit to __ hours at first	Patients fused to the sacrum should check with their surgeon for guidance.
Walk	Immediately	Immediately	Immediately
Climb stairs	Immediately	Immediately	Immediately
Shower				Many surgeons prefer that the incision be kept dry for up to 2 weeks or until staples are removed. No showers if there is any drainage. Use shower bench or rails for safety.
Drive a car	N/A	6 weeks	6 weeks	When medication use would make it safe.
Bend past 90° when seated	OK	OK	6 months
Lift arms above head	6 weeks	3 months	3 months	Or immediately, if no thoracic fusion.
Have sex	N/A	6 weeks	6 weeks	Dependent, missionary or side lying. No hip flexion > 90°.
Take a bath	3 weeks	3 weeks	3 weeks	Observe other precautions.
Take aspirin	3-4 months	3-4 months	3-4 months
Take NSAIDs	3-4 months	3-4 months	3-4 months
Lift 10 pounds	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
Lift 25 pounds				Will vary depending upon preop fitness/strength.
Lift 50+ pounds				Will vary depending upon preop fitness/strength.
Go to the bathroom without wearing brace	2 weeks	2 weeks	2-6 weeks
Get pregnant	N/A	1 year	1 year
Go back to school/work				When comfortable. Depends on job requirements. Starting part-time is preferred.
Ride a rollercoaster	1 year	1 year	1 year
Garden	3 months	3-6 months	6-9 months
Mow the lawn	3 months	3-6 months	3-6 months
Vacuum	3 months	3-6 months	3-6 months	If vacuum does not require pushing hard or bending.
Load a dishwasher	3 months	3-6 months	6 months
Sweep	6 weeks	6-12 weeks	3-6 months
Get a massage	3 months	3 months	3 months
Sit in a hot tub	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks	If slipping is not a concern. Observe other precautions (e.g., hip flexion).
Have other types of non-essential surgery	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks	Varies depending on type of surgery.
Stop wearing post-surgical brace/begin weaning	6-12 weeks	3-6 months	3-6 months
Water walk	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
Swim	6 weeks	6 weeks	6-12 weeks
Water aerobics	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
Land aerobics	3 months	3 months	3-6 months	Non impact only.
Use StairMaster				Check with surgeon.
Use Nordic Track				Check with surgeon.
Ride bicycle	3 months	3 months	3-6 months	Start with stationary bike.
Run/jog	1 year	1 year	Never
Play tennis	4-6 months	6 months	6+ months	Non-competitive, doubles, no sustained running for 1 year.
Play baseball	4-6 months	6-12 months	6-12 months	Non-competitive, no sustained running, no sliding for 1 year.
Play soccer	1 year	1 year	1 year	Non-competitive, no sustained running.
Play golf	1 year	1 year	1 year
Ride a horse	1 year	1 year	1-2 years
Snow ski	1 year	1 year	Check w/MD
Water ski	1 year	1 year	Check w/MD
Lift weights	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks	Supervised only. See weight limit above.
Perform back exercises	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks	With qualified physical therapist and MD's approval.
Sky dive	1 year	2 years	2 years
Rock climb	2 years	2 years	2 years
Perform yoga exercises	3 months	3 months	6 months	Observe other precautions
Perform Pilates exercises	3 months	3 months	6 months	Observe other precautions
Shave legs				When allowed hip flexion > 90° allowed.
Clip toe nails				When allowed hip flexion > 90° allowed.