Spinal Fusion Rehabilitation Case Study

Introduction: This rehabilitation program is designed for an eighteen year old female volleyball player. This athlete came to the Athletic Training Room with idiopathic scoliosis that had gone untreated since the age of 12. She experiences severe pain in the thoracic spine as well as in the surrounding muscles. Being that she waited 6 years to have the surgery, it might have increased her risk for complications. The surgery that this athlete will undergo is a spinal fusion surgery of the thoracic spine(T11-T12). It is better that the spinal fusion surgery for idiopathic scoliosis is done at a young age versus as the patient gets older because complications dealing with the postoperative aspect greatly increase. These complications include,

Agility Exercises

Ladder drill (10 seconds max effort, 30 seconds rest; 10 minutes)

Cone drill (cones in H pattern, 7 cones)

Short Hurdle drill (5 hurdles, 5 times through)

Box runs (3x25sec) (see appendix P)

C. Theory 1. Plyometric exercises improve the reactive properties of neuromuscular system by using the stretch-shortening cycle. This causes a more forceful contraction because of the stored elastic energy and the stretch reflex. The stored elastic energy contributes to force production by storing energy in the series elastic component, if you quickly produce a concentric force after an eccentric force. This will result in a more forceful contraction (Joao and Veloso, 2013).

The involuntary contraction of the muscle spindle during a rapid stretch causes a greater recruitment of muscle fibers, which adds for a more forceful contraction because of the stretch reflex. 2. With these exercises the DAPRE technique can be utilized. The

DAPRE technique allows you to adjust their exercise everyday and gives specific guidelines on the progression of their workout. You first need to find the athletes 6 repetition max (6RM) and use it by

By following these guidelines, this athlete should return to play in one year with increased strength in the posterior chain, anterior chain and all limbs than she had before the operation. She also should have very minimal, if any pain with activities of daily living, as well as exercise including sport specific exercises. If pain or any other complications arise, the athlete will need to see her Athletic Trainer to assess the problem and then may be further referred back to her