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 Lumbar Laminectomy or Discectomy

Physical Therapy

by the Brain and Spine Neurosurgical Institute

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Here are a few simple exercises that might help you after a lumbar laminectomy procedure. Please note that each person is an individual and has their own medical problems, therefore you might experience different types of pains that others may not feel. This should be a caution to you not to continue and you can always consult us at any time.

The first exercise is diaphragmatic breathing. This is particularly important because the concept applies to all other exercises and functional activities when sitting and standing. It is very important to maintain an erect posture and to breathe properly. 

1. Breathe in through your nose and place your hands on the outer and posterior aspects of your lower ribs. You should feel your outer ribs expand with no forward movement of your abdomen 

2. Breathe out through your nose and pursed lips. You should feel your lower ribs move upward and inward. 

3. Try to practice this form of breathing throughout the day whenever you think of it. If you find it difficult to do in a sitting or standing position, you can try lying on your back with your knees bent.

Our second exercise for lumbar laminectomy recovery is the Knee-to-Chest exercise. 

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your spine stabilized.

2. Bring one knee towards your chest and hold it with both hands.

3. Straighten your opposite leg. Maintain a stable spine by keeping your belly button in and your pelvic floor muscles contracted. 

4. Hold this for 10-15 seconds.

5. Repeat the sequence with the opposite arm and leg

Our last stretch is the piriformis stretch. The piriformis is a muscle that extends from the base of your spine, called the sacrum, to the outside of your hip. 

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your arms at your side. 

2. Cross one leg over the other so that your ankle is resting on the lower thigh of the opposite leg.

3. Place your hands just below the knee or behind the thigh of the stabilizing leg and slowly pull this leg back towards your shoulder.

4. Stop when you feel a slight stretch in the buttock region or in the upper thigh

5. Keep holding this stretch for 20 seconds
   

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