How to do exercises with disc fusion?

Disc fusion is a procedure where the surgeon removes the cartilage between two vertebrae and fuses the two bones together. A surgeon may perform a disc fusion to relieve the symptoms of degenerative disk disease, spinal fractures and other injuries, disorders and diseases that affect the bones in the spine. The purpose is to reduce mobility in that area of the spine to prevent further damage to the nerves and soft tissue surrounding the bones. You can exercise with a disc fusion, but you need to make adjustments.
Step 1
Consult your physician before you resume or begin your exercise program. It can take up to three months for the grafted bones to heal, according to Spine Health. Your physician may have you avoid all exercise, including physical therapy, during this time.
Step 2
Focus on low-impact or nonweight-bearing aerobic exercises for the first three months after your graft has healed. The impact of running, or even walking, may aggravate the surgical site. Use an exercise cycle or elliptical trainer. You can also take a water aerobics class or do water walking.
Step 3
Incorporate resistance exercises after the initial three-month aerobic period. When done properly, resistance exercise can make the bone graft stronger, but you need to start with light-to-moderate weights to avoid damaging the new graft. Start with high repetitions, such as 15 to 20, of light weights for three months then gradually increase the resistance until you can do no more than 10 repetitions per set.
Step 4
Take a restorative yoga class in the first three months, during the aerobic period, to help with your recovery. During this time, avoid exercises that bend or twist your spine. At the end of the three months, incorporate more active types of yoga such as hatha or vinyasa flow and consult your physician before doing poses that bend or twist the spine.
Step 5
Add core-strengthening exercises after the initial three-month aerobic period. Core strengthening exercises, such as Pilates, will build up the muscles around your spine to support the graft. As with the yoga exercises, avoid exercises that twist or bend your spine without first consulting your physician.
Step 6
Warm up for at least 10 minutes before each exercise session and cool down for at least five minutes after.
Step 7
Always stretch out the muscles you have worked after each session. For example, if you do a water walking class, stretch your leg muscles after the session.