Spinal Orthopaedic Rehab in New Jersey: Recover Your Mobility

Limited mobility in the spine can take a large toll on the activities you can comfortably perform in your everyday life. At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, we work with expert orthopedic physical therapy specialists to offer spinal orthopedic rehabilitation programs. These programs help New Jersey residents across the state recover their mobility and get back to the activities they love.

Twin Boro Physical Therapy has been a leader in rehabilitative care for over 40 years. Since 1980, it has been our mission to offer state-of-the-art equipment and methods so New Jersey residents can feel confident in their care. With access to high-quality professionals, advanced techniques, and a motivated community, we are confident we can help you reach your goals.

Exercises to improve spine mobility

The structures of the spine are delicate, which means it is important to work with a physical therapist to determine which therapeutic exercises are most beneficial for your conditions and symptoms. This can avoid “tweaking” the back or otherwise aggravating your symptoms. In the case that you have additional conditions contributing to your back pain, a physical therapist can ensure you are only performing movements that will improve your overall health and not cause pain or discomfort. 

Spinal mobility can target several areas of the spine depending on where you are experiencing movement difficulties. While each patient will be different, many physical therapy programs incorporate simple movements to increase flexibility and strength in the area of concern. For those with limited mobility in their cervical spine, an example of an exercise that may be incorporated into a spinal physical therapy program includes:

Neck rolls

This exercise works the cervical spine and trapezius muscles.

1. To begin, sit or stand with your spine straight.
2. Tuck the chin toward the chest.
3. With the chin tucked, gently roll your head to the left and turn the head so the left ear is over the left shoulder.
4. Return to neutral position.
5. Repeat on the right side.
6. Repeat each side 3-6 times. Try to remember to keep the shoulders pulled downward and back in a neutral position rather than shrugged.

For those who would like to focus on the thoracic or lumbar portions of the spine, exercises such as the following are likely to be included in the program:

Upward dog to child’s pose 

This exercise works the quadratus lumborum and erector spinae.

1. To begin, get into a tabletop position with your shoulders over the hands and hips over the knees.
2. Gently lean forwards and let the hips drop slowly into upward facing dog pose. For greater range of motion, walk the hands forward to allow the hips to drop more deeply.
3. Hold for 5-10 seconds.
4. Rock backward and let the hips sink over the heels into a child’s pose position.
5. Hold for 5-10 seconds.
6. Repeat this rock back and forth.

While these are example exercises, each patient will have a unique set of exercises. In many cases, your physical therapist may begin with simple exercises and gradually increase the intensity and duration as your condition improves.

Let’s work together!

Twin Boro Physical Therapy offers spinal orthopedic rehab to help New Jersey residents recover their mobility and improve their quality of life. To get started, schedule an appointment at the clinic nearest you by calling 732.554.0775 or visiting our website.