Overview
Your lumbar spine is the lower portion of your back where five vertebra rest. The lumbar region is prone to injury and spinal degeneration. If your lumbar disc slips out of place, bulges or a bone spur forms, you can experience pain because the disc presses on the spinal nerves. The solution for this is a lumbar laminectomy, a procedure that removes diseased portions of spinal vertebra to reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. In addition, a surgeon may use screws or rods to fuse the vertebra together to strengthen them. After surgery, your physician may recommend physical therapy exercises to strengthen and stretch your lower back.
Leg Slides
Leg slides are an ideal exercise following lumbar laminectomy because they encourage blood flow to the legs while strengthening the lower spine. This exercise can be performed while in bed following surgery. To begin, lie on your back with your legs extended. Bend your right leg, placing your right foot on the bed. Contract your stomach and lower back muscles to slowly slide the leg to a straight position. When you have straightened the leg, slowly slide the leg in toward your starting bent-knee position. Repeat five times on your right leg, then repeat on the left side.
Straight Leg Raise
This exercise is known as a lumbar stabilization exercise, meaning it helps to strengthen the muscles that support your lumbar spine. Perform this exercise when your physician has given you permission to begin stretching. Start by lying on your back with your legs extended. Your arms can be extended from your shoulders or straight at your sides with your palms facing down. Flex the left foot and slowly lift it in the air toward your chest. Stop when you meet resistance, then lower the leg to your starting position. Repeat this exercise 10 times, then switch to your right foot.
Supported Dying Bug
The dying bug exercise strengthens the core muscles of your abdomen and lower back following a lumbar laminectomy procedure. Wait at least one week following surgery or until your physician says you can perform core strengthening exercises. You can place a pillow under your back to provide cushion and support following surgery. To perform the exercise, lie on your back and lift your legs in the air, bending them at the knees. Stop when your thighs are aligned with your hips and your thighs and lower legs make a 90-degree angle. Extend your arms overhead and reach your left hand toward your right knee, pulling the right knee in slightly. Return to your starting position and touch your right hand to your left knee. Continue alternating for 20 repetitions. As you gain strength, you can extend the leg the working arm is not touching.
Contralateral Leg Lift
This exercise should be performed when you have progressed in your physical therapy and your back feels stronger. Start on all fours with your back as straight as possible and your arms directly under your shoulders and your feet hip-width apart. Lift your right arm in the air, extending it at shoulder height. At the same time, extend your left leg backward, lifting it to align with your back. Maintain this position for 10 seconds, then lower the leg and arm. Continue to alternate your leg and arm for 10 repetitions.
OTHER RELATED INFORMATION
Your lumbar spine is the lower portion of your back where five vertebra rest. The lumbar region is prone to injury and spinal degeneration. If your lumbar disc slips out of place, bulges or a bone spur forms, you can experience pain because the disc presses on the spinal nerves. The solution for this is a lumbar laminectomy, a procedure that removes diseased portions of spinal vertebra to reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. In addition, a surgeon may use screws or rods to fuse the vertebra together to strengthen them. After surgery, your physician may recommend physical therapy exercises to strengthen and stretch your lower back.
Leg Slides
Leg slides are an ideal exercise following lumbar laminectomy because they encourage blood flow to the legs while strengthening the lower spine. This exercise can be performed while in bed following surgery. To begin, lie on your back with your legs extended. Bend your right leg, placing your right foot on the bed. Contract your stomach and lower back muscles to slowly slide the leg to a straight position. When you have straightened the leg, slowly slide the leg in toward your starting bent-knee position. Repeat five times on your right leg, then repeat on the left side.
Straight Leg RaiseThis exercise is known as a lumbar stabilization exercise, meaning it helps to strengthen the muscles that support your lumbar spine. Perform this exercise when your physician has given you permission to begin stretching. Start by lying on your back with your legs extended. Your arms can be extended from your shoulders or straight at your sides with your palms facing down. Flex the left foot and slowly lift it in the air toward your chest. Stop when you meet resistance, then lower the leg to your starting position. Repeat this exercise 10 times, then switch to your right foot.
Supported Dying Bug
The dying bug exercise strengthens the core muscles of your abdomen and lower back following a lumbar laminectomy procedure. Wait at least one week following surgery or until your physician says you can perform core strengthening exercises. You can place a pillow under your back to provide cushion and support following surgery. To perform the exercise, lie on your back and lift your legs in the air, bending them at the knees. Stop when your thighs are aligned with your hips and your thighs and lower legs make a 90-degree angle. Extend your arms overhead and reach your left hand toward your right knee, pulling the right knee in slightly. Return to your starting position and touch your right hand to your left knee. Continue alternating for 20 repetitions. As you gain strength, you can extend the leg the working arm is not touching.
Contralateral Leg Lift
This exercise should be performed when you have progressed in your physical therapy and your back feels stronger. Start on all fours with your back as straight as possible and your arms directly under your shoulders and your feet hip-width apart. Lift your right arm in the air, extending it at shoulder height. At the same time, extend your left leg backward, lifting it to align with your back. Maintain this position for 10 seconds, then lower the leg and arm. Continue to alternate your leg and arm for 10 repetitions.
