Deadlifts and/or Squats post L5/S1 Fusion

drseuss · Jun 18, 2007

Trainer Question Please: Deadlifts and/or Squats post L5/S1 Fusion

I posted this in another forum as well, but wanted to see if any of the CPTs had any recommendations/experience with my situation.

I had a L5/S1 fusion (titanium cage) in 2002 and am in decent shape, but want to develop a good FBW. I'm obviously going to run this by my doc (sports medicine doc), but am curious if anyone has any comments or recommendations regarding deadlifts or squats in a FBW after a fusion surgery.

For the record: no significant pain since recovery, slight limitation in ROM, and I've kept my weight...sort of in check.

Thanks-

drseuss · Jun 19, 2007

Any advice?

stingo · Jun 20, 2007

Wish I could help you here, but I think you're best off with your doc's advice. (He/she knows your history better than anyone and probably could offer the best advice, esp given the sports medicine background.)

drseuss · Jun 20, 2007

stingo said:
Wish I could help you here, but I think you're best off with your doc's advice. (He/she knows your history better than anyone and probably could offer the best advice, esp given the sports medicine background.)

Thanks stingo - I was thinking that at least one of the personal trainers may have come across a situation like mine before.

I won't see my doc for another month (don't want to make an appointment just for this question) so I'll just leave squats and deadlifts out of the FBW for now. Any suggestions for "replacement" lifts?

drseuss · Jun 20, 2007

Another Question: Personal Trainers

Do most personal trainers get the training to work with individuals with past injuries?

I ask primarily because I'm thinking I may need to hire a personal trainer to help me develop a solid routine due to my prior back surgeries. I've got a call in to our family doctor (DO/Sports Medicine) to see if he has any recommendations on personal trainers.

On the off chance that he doesn't, is it part of the "screening" that would go in to hiring a personal trainer?

bipennate · Jun 24, 2007

drseuss said:
Do most personal trainers get the training to work with individuals with past injuries?

I ask primarily because I'm thinking I may need to hire a personal trainer to help me develop a solid routine due to my prior back surgeries. I've got a call in to our family doctor (DO/Sports Medicine) to see if he has any recommendations on personal trainers.

On the off chance that he doesn't, is it part of the "screening" that would go in to hiring a personal trainer?

No, no, and absolutely not, unfortunately. You would have to ask for someone with specific post-orthopedic rehab experience, which is rare in your standard YMCA or Bally's.

For the record, I wouldn't really be able to tell you over the internet if something is appropriate for you or not. With proper form, there should be little L5-S1 flexion/extension occurring, but individual movement and mobility play a huge part in that. You may be able to perform one but not the other, perform both with no problem, or be able to perform both modified. I would think that you'd be safer with a front squat before a back squat, or a proper RDL, rack pull or possibly sumo deadlift before a conventional, but again that's only a guess. You might be able to perfom trap bar deads more easily than a standard CDL as well, but it's tough to say for certain. Either way, your sports doc is clearly the one to consult here.

One word of advice, however: make sure that your doc understands exactly what the excercise really is, however: doctors are NOT experts in exercise, they are experts in medicine. For the same reason why I wouldn't be the person to perform hip replacement surgery, your doctor really shouldn't be the first choice to design or comment on a specific exercise, unless he/she understands exactly what that exercise is and involves (and hence, the biomechanics of the exercise, which incidently is rarely a physician's training or area of expertise). The same "don't squat past 90 degrees" and "deadlifts are bad for your back" dogma is repeated far too often by doctors with little to no actual understanding of the techniques and who have no real authority on the subject, but who feel qualified to nonetheless.

drseuss · Jun 24, 2007

Thank you very much for the response. I had a feeling this would be the case and am very fortunate with my doc as he one of the top D.O.'s in the Washington DC area. More importantly, he listens and with the sports medicine specialty, should be able to give a good recommendation for a trainer.

I'll know more Tuesday when I see him.

Thanks again--appreciate it very much.

missyv · Jun 24, 2007

Definately check with you doc, he may be able to suggest a good sport medicine clinic to get you set up with a safe routine. My bet is that you can lift a moderate amount of weight with good form, as once fusions are healed it is usually okay to resume even athletics activities. On an off note I am glad to hear you had such good results with your surgery. I herniated a disc last winter and so far have had moderately good luck with conservative treatment. I have to be careful with certain movements;coughing and sneezing scares me

Great job on your progress.

drseuss · Jun 24, 2007

missyv said:
Definately check with you doc, he may be able to suggest a good sport medicine clinic to get you set up with a safe routine. My bet is that you can lift a moderate amount of weight with good form, as once fusions are healed it is usually okay to resume even athletics activities. On an off note I am glad to hear you had such good results with your surgery. I herniated a disc last winter and so far have had moderately good luck with conservative treatment. I have to be careful with certain movements;coughing and sneezing scares me Great job on your progress.

Will do -- and will gladly post back the results here for anyone interested.

As for my post-surgery results, it's really been amazing to go from constant pain and pills (3-4 years) to virtually no pain and no pills. That said, avoid surgery if at all possible. It was a surgery to correct a herniated disc that went bad and caused my constant pain for 3-4 years. Physical therapy can do wonders for herniations-- I wish you the best with that. Just take it slow.

And with my back issues, I really want to be as strong and in shape as possible to avoid (or reduce as much as possible) the risk of future problems (I have degenerative disc disease).