What are the principles of rehabilitation after cervical spine surgery?

  Functional training for patients with cervical spondylosis after surgery is very important and has a significant impact on the patient’s future work, study and life. After the traumatic reaction period of surgery, functional training can be started if the patient’s condition is stable.  The rehabilitation of the patient after surgery is very important, because each person’s bone condition and surgery condition are different, please consult with the surgeon for the specific time to start the rehabilitation training. This article provides some ways of rehabilitation training.  1. The earlier respiratory function training starts, the better. Pulmonary complications are a common complication after cervical spine surgery. Patients should be encouraged to perform deep breathing and active coughing training during postoperative bed rest to prevent pulmonary atelectasis and lung infection, and patients should be encouraged to get out of bed as early as possible when conditions permit. Patients with cervical spondylosis can get out of bed under the protection of cervical collar in 3-5 days after surgery, and the wearing time of cervical collar is generally 8 weeks.  The maintenance of cervical curvature in postoperative patients with cervical spondylosis is of great significance to the effect of surgical treatment. For 3 months after surgery, lie as flat as possible with the pillow removed; when lying on the side, put a thin pillow to avoid excessive lateral flexion of the neck. For patients undergoing posterior cervical spine surgery, the posterior extension strength of the cervical spine is reduced due to the stripping of the paravertebral muscles during surgery, so the strength training of the collar and back muscles should be carried out as early as possible after surgery to ensure the physiological curvature of the cervical spine.  The position of both shoulders should be basically fixed when cervical spine exercise is performed. The specific items are as follows (please consult your surgeon for the specific time to start training): Cervical spine single action: the so-called cervical spine single action refers to the running direction of the basic action when performing cervical spine exercise.  Cervical flexion: keep the body in a standing position, shut up, head down, jaw inward as close to the chest as possible, and look at the chest with both eyes; exert force when inhaling, keep the cervical flexors tense, and relax the cervical flexors when exhaling. After several repetitions, resume the preparatory posture.  Cervical extension: keep the body in a standing position, shut up, raise the head, and look back up as far as possible; exert force when inhaling, keep the cervical spine extensors tense, and relax the cervical spine extensors when exhaling. After several repetitions, return to the preparatory posture. Cervical extension there is another action, the action and the above requirements are basically the same, but requires the practice of the mouth to be slightly open.  Cervical lateral flexion: head to the left (or right), eyes forward flat; inhalation cervical lateral flexor muscle force, exhale relaxation. After several repetitions, resume the preparatory posture.  3.Limb function training (start functional exercises as early as possible) Most patients with cervical spondylosis have a decline in the fine movements of both hands and the walking ability of the lower limbs, and the corresponding functional training should be strengthened after surgery. Especially hand activities, such as finger pairing, finger splitting, grasping and other movements, should be trained. Walking ability should be gradually transitioned from walking with a walker to independent walking.