You also will learn proper ways to perform tasks at home, such as bending and lifting.įall prevention. This will protect the vertebrae from undue stress when you sit, stand, walk – and even while you sleep. Your physical therapist will teach you how to maintain safe posture and spinal positions. These may include upper- and lower-body, stomach, and back muscle-strengthening activities. Your physical therapist will prescribe gentle exercises to help stimulate your bone strength and straighten the curve of your middle back. Your physical therapist may teach you gentle spinal range-of-motion exercises for the neck, middle, and low back, and the hip and shoulder areas. Avoiding certain movements will promote healing and help prevent future fractures or collapse of the vertebrae.įlexibility exercises. Your physical therapist will teach you what movements and exercises to gently perform, and not to perform. These treatments can help you avoid the need for pain medications, including opioids. Your physical therapist may use different treatments, technologies, and manual (hands-on) therapy to control and reduce your pain. Your physical therapy treatment may include: It is important to help the muscles of the trunk and legs stay strong as you heal. It may also increase your risk for falls. This weakness can make it difficult to resume your regular activities. While you heal and your activity is limited, muscles in the core, hips, and back can become weak. Avoid intense activities, depending on the severity of the fracture.Reduce your overall activity level for a short time.During the healing process, your doctor may recommend that you: It may take weeks or months for a spinal compression fracture to heal. In more severe cases, a surgeon may perform a procedure (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty) injecting medical cement into the collapsed vertebra to give it support. They will test the strength in your spine, legs, and shoulders, and check your balance.Ī compression fracture rarely requires surgery. They may touch places along your spine to locate any areas of pain or tenderness, and check your spinal movements. Your physical therapist also will perform a physical examination of your spine. If needed, they will also fit you for a brace for additional support. This information can help prevent more fractures of nearby bones. Your physical therapist will immediately teach you safety measures to protect your spine. If you are in too much pain to travel to an outpatient clinic, you can receive home care or start physical therapy in the hospital. When you experience a spinal compression fracture, it is very important to start physical therapy immediately. Your physical therapist will use this information to design a treatment plan specific to your personal needs and goals. Your regular daily activities and exercise regimen will be discussed. They will gather information about your past medical history, medications you may be taking, and your current symptoms. Your physical therapist will perform a complete evaluation. Reduce their risk of falling to help lessen the chance of future fractures.Improve their flexibility and strength. Physical therapists help people with spinal compression fractures: Physical therapy begins as soon as possible after the compression fracture is stable (as determined by a physician). A hard fall or a fall from a height of more than 15 feet, landing on the feet.Īny fall from a standing height that results in a spinal compression fracture or any other fracture most likely indicates weak bones due to osteoporosis.Events that may cause trauma to the spine can include: This rounded posture is a condition known as thoracic hyperkyphosis, or “dowager’s hump.”Ī spinal compression fracture also may be caused by trauma to the spine. This frontal breakdown causes the upper spine to round forward. The back portion of the vertebra remains solid. Fractures can weaken the entire spine.Ĭompression fractures often cause the bone in the front of a vertebra to break down. These small compression fractures can cause the spine to lose height and stability over time. Even coughing, laughing, or sneezing can cause a compression fracture in someone with weakened bones. There are seven cervical (neck) vertebrae, 12 thoracic (upper and middle back) vertebrae, and five lumbar (lower back) vertebrae.Ī simple activity like bending to lift an object or twisting can cause a compression fracture. Twenty-four bones, called vertebrae, make up the entire spine.
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