The value of physiotherapy before spinal surgery is well established and consistently underutilised. People who arrive at surgery stronger, more mobile, and better educated about the recovery process achieve meaningfully better outcomes than those who don't.

Research shows that patients who complete a structured prehabilitation program before spinal surgery:

• Recover faster and return to function sooner after the procedure
• Experience less post-operative pain and require less medication
• Have stronger core and spinal musculature to support recovery
• Feel more psychologically prepared and less anxious going into surgery
• Are better equipped to participate actively in post-operative rehabilitation

• Core and spinal strengthening exercises tailored to your condition and surgical plan
• Aerobic conditioning to improve your general fitness and surgical resilience
• Postural education and movement retraining to address habits that may have developed due to pain
• Education on your procedure, post-operative precautions, and what to expect at each stage of recovery
• Goal setting and baseline testing so we can objectively measure your progress after surgery

Prehab is relevant to you if you are:

• On the surgical waiting list and want to use the time productively
• Recently told you will need spinal decompression or fusion surgery
• Managing significant pain, weakness, or reduced function in the lead-up to surgery
• Wanting to reduce your risk of complications and optimise your recovery
• Feeling anxious about the procedure and wanting to feel informed and prepared



Even a short prehab program of four to six weeks produces measurable benefits. If you have longer on the waiting list, we can build a more comprehensive program and address the muscle weakness and movement dysfunction that typically accumulates with chronic spinal pain.

Recovery timelines vary depending on the procedure performed, the levels involved, your age, and your overall health. As a general guide:

• Microdiscectomy – most people return to light activity within two to four weeks, with full recovery typically achieved within three to six months
• Laminectomy – recovery generally takes six weeks to three months for daily activities, with full functional recovery up to six to twelve months depending on the extent of surgery
• Spinal Fusion – the most involved recovery, typically requiring three to six months before returning to most activities, with bony fusion taking up to twelve months to complete



Regardless of the procedure, structured physiotherapy is essential throughout the recovery process. Without it, people commonly experience ongoing weakness, movement dysfunction, persistent pain, and a significantly higher risk of re-injury.

We work collaboratively with your orthopaedic surgeon and any other members of your healthcare team to ensure your rehabilitation aligns with their post-operative protocols and any specific precautions relevant to your procedure. If you have discharge instructions or a protocol from your surgeon, bring them along to your first appointment and we'll build your program around them.



We also work closely with GPs and specialists across Adelaide and welcome referrals from surgical practices managing patients before and after knee replacement.

Depending on your procedure and surgeon, you may be given specific movement precautions to follow in the early weeks after surgery. These are designed to protect the surgical site while healing occurs and reduce the risk of complications.

Common precautions after spinal surgery include:

• Avoiding bending, lifting, and twisting (often referred to as BLT precautions) in the early post-operative period
• Restrictions on sitting duration, particularly after lumbar procedures
• Specific guidelines around returning to driving, work, and exercise
• For fusion patients — stricter activity restrictions while bony fusion is consolidating
• We work directly with your surgical team's protocols and will make sure your rehabilitation program respects all relevant precautions at every stage — keeping you safe while still making meaningful progress toward your recovery goals.

Many people undergoing spinal decompression surgery have pre-existing nerve symptoms — such as sciatica, leg weakness, numbness, or pins and needles — that may take time to resolve after surgery, even when the procedure is technically successful.

Nerve recovery is a gradual process that can take weeks to months depending on the severity and duration of compression.

Our physiotherapists are experienced in managing neurological recovery alongside musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and we'll set realistic expectations around the timeline for nerve symptom resolution as part of your overall care plan.

If you're concerned about nerve symptoms that are worsening rather than improving after surgery, it's important to communicate this with your surgical team promptly.

We work collaboratively with your spinal surgeon, GP, and any other members of your healthcare team to ensure your rehabilitation aligns with their post-operative protocols and any specific precautions relevant to your procedure.

If you have discharge instructions or a rehabilitation protocol from your surgical team, bring these to your first appointment and we'll build your program around them. We welcome referrals from GPs, neurosurgeons, and orthopaedic spinal surgeons across Adelaide and are experienced in working within the specific guidelines of different surgical teams and approaches.

Our spinal surgery rehabilitation services are relevant to you if you are:

• On the waiting list for a laminectomy, microdiscectomy, spinal fusion, or foraminotomy
• Preparing for surgery and wanting to optimise your pre-operative strength and fitness
• In the early weeks after spinal surgery and needing structured post-operative care
• Further along in recovery but feeling like progress has stalled
• Managing ongoing neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or nerve pain after surgery
• A GP, neurosurgeon, or orthopaedic surgeon looking to refer patients for pre- or post-operative physiotherapy

Q: When should I start prehab before my spinal surgery? As soon as you know surgery is planned. Even if you're in significant pain or have nerve symptoms limiting your activity, there is almost always something we can do to improve your strength, fitness, and readiness. Ideally six to eight weeks, but any structured prehab is better than arriving at surgery having done nothing.

Q: When can I start physio after spinal surgery? Most people begin physiotherapy within two to four weeks after surgery, once cleared by their surgical team. Some surgeons prefer patients to start earlier — bring your discharge instructions to your first appointment and we'll work within your surgeon's guidelines from day one.

Q: My leg pain hasn't gone away since my microdiscectomy — is that normal? It can be. Nerve symptoms such as leg pain, numbness, and tingling can persist for weeks to months after surgery, even when the procedure has successfully removed the compression. This is because nerves heal slowly. However, if symptoms are worsening rather than improving, contact your surgical team promptly. We can help manage nerve recovery as part of your rehabilitation program.

Q: How long will recovery take after a spinal fusion? Spinal fusion is the most involved spinal procedure in terms of recovery. Most people return to light daily activities within six to twelve weeks, but full recovery — including return to physical work or demanding activities — can take six to twelve months. The fusion itself takes up to twelve months to fully consolidate. Your physio will give you a realistic, milestone-based plan from the outset.

Q: Do I need a referral to start rehab? No referral is needed to book directly with us. If you're accessing treatment through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management plan, your GP will need to set up a referral. Some private health funds also require a referral for rebates — check with your fund if you're unsure.

Q: What's the difference between a laminectomy and a microdiscectomy? A laminectomy removes part of the bony arch of the vertebra to create space for compressed nerves — most commonly performed for spinal stenosis. A microdiscectomy removes a portion of a herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve root — most commonly performed for sciatica. Both are decompression procedures, but the cause of compression, surgical approach, and recovery timeline differ. Your surgeon will recommend the appropriate procedure based on your diagnosis.



Q: I had spinal surgery over a year ago and still don't feel right — can you help? Yes. Delayed or incomplete recovery after spinal surgery is more common than people realise, and there is often a great deal we can do — even well after the procedure. Persistent weakness, movement dysfunction, ongoing pain, and fear of re-injury are all things we regularly help people address, regardless of how long ago their surgery was.