Moving Through Fusion: Preparing, Healing, and Thriving After Spinal Fusion Surgery

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the realities of living with scoliosis, from early diagnosis to lifelong care, and to amplify the voices of those navigating this path. One journey we don’t talk about enough? Spinal fusion.  Undergoing spinal fusion for scoliosis is not just about the surgery itself; it’s an emotional, physical, and mental journey that begins long before the operation and continues well after the scars have healed. I know this firsthand. When I was 12, my curve had reached 52 degrees. Despite months in a plaster cast and brace, the progression wouldn’t slow down. My orthopedic surgeon’s words still echo in my mind: “It’s no longer aesthetic, it’s vital.” I was not ready for what was about to start. At Scolio-Pilates®, we believe that knowledge, preparation, and movement are essential companions through every phase of this journey.

One of the best things you can do before scoliosis surgery is prepare your body for the work of healing. Recovery is hard work, so the stronger you go in, the more support you’ll have on the other side. The goal is to focus on functional strength.

Key exercises to prepare your body:

• Sit-to-Stand with Arm Support: Practice getting up from a chair without bending or twisting your spine. Try using your arms only, and then your legs only —  keep your feet planted under your knees, and build that leg strength.
  

• Log-Roll Technique: Learn how to log-roll in and out of bed, this will be your go-to method for a while. Your hospital team will help you with this, but practicing in advance makes a big difference.
  
• Strengthen your legs: Gentle squat-taps or wall-supported squats can be a great way to maintain alignment and leg strength before surgery.
  

Your goal here isn’t perfection, it’s preparation. Building strength, understanding your body, and learning safe ways to move will give you confidence going into surgery.

Once the surgery is behind you, and you have been cleared by your doctor, the focus shifts to healing, slowly, intentionally, and with great care.
It might surprise you how much strength it takes to do simple things: getting out of bed, standing tall, or lifting your legs. You need to gradually rebuilding strength while respecting your new structure. That’s where your prehab pays off.
Here are some of the first movements many people reintroduce (with guidance from their care team):

• Gentle back and shoulder work: Think spine lifts while lying on your stomach. Try only lifting your head a hair’s breadth off the floor and then try a bit more at a time. Focus on a wide, open chest and soft lift through the back of the head and then eventually, the collarbones.
  
• Standing marches: Rebuild hip strength and stability. It helps build the strength to be able to lift your legs to get dressed and get in and out of the shower.
  
• Seated hip flexion: Using your hands for resistance to help with everyday tasks like dressing or getting in and out of a car.
  

There’s no race. Every day is a step forward.

Once deep breathing becomes a whole new experience after spinal fusion. If part of your spine and rib cage has been stabilized, you may need to rediscover how to access your breath.
Start with belly breathing. Reconnect with your rib cage, sternum, and diaphragm. For anterior procedures, remember that your abdominal muscles may need more time and patience. Breathing becomes both a physical and emotional part of your recovery, so give it the space it deserves.

One of the biggest myths about spinal fusion is that you’ll be permanently limited. Yes, some movements will change. Flexibility in fused areas will be reduced. But that doesn’t mean you stop moving, it means you move purposefully.
At Scolio-Pilates®, we still use our core principles, elongation, de-rotation, breathing, and strengthening, but we treat the fusion as one strong, stable segment.
You’ll learn new ways to stack your body, shift your weight, and find balance in standing and seated postures. You’ll train your unfused joints to stay strong and stable, avoiding the temptation to overstretch or collapse into flexibility you no longer need. This isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what matters, safely, intelligently, and with strength.

As you rebuild your strength and confidence post-fusion, your movement practice will evolve. With the right support and modifications, you can continue progressing safely, without compromising your alignment or stability.  You will find your own tricks to deal with life, the biggest adjustment I had to deal with was taking a bath, to this day, I can’t enjoy them…

Returning to movement might include:

• Strategies for sitting more comfortably, getting to the floor, or even breathing with more ease.
  
• Customizing some exercises: Modify or skip deep twists and end-range movements to protect the fusion and adjacent joints.
  
• Use props or Pilates equipment (the Reformer and Chair are especially helpful) to support postural corrections.
  

It’s not about doing less, it’s about doing better, smarter, and more safely. This means modifying your alignment strategies, adjusting your strength goals, and building stability where it matters most.

Scoliosis Awareness Month is a reminder that no one should walk this path in silence. Spinal fusion changes your spine, but it doesn’t take away your ability to move, grow, and thrive. I had my spinal fusion 35 years ago, and I’ve learned to adapt to my fusion, and I am stronger for it. I wish I had something like Scolio-Pilates® then, but it’s never too late!
Whether you’re preparing for surgery, recovering, or years into your post-op journey, you are not alone. We’ve gathered a few fusion-friendly exercise examples in this video to help you see how you can move safely and confidently before & after surgery. Watch the video here.

Scolio-Pilates® is here for you. We believe in support over struggle, strength over flexibility, and connection over comparison.
Scolio-Pilates® is here to support you with education, movement, and a whole lot of heart. You’ve got this, and we’ve got your back

Want to move with your spinal fusion? Join our Scolio-Pilates On Demand, where you will find fusion-friendly routines and a community to help you in all stages of your journey!

Interested in learning more about spinal fusion? Check out our Spinal Fusion Webinar With Authorized Scolio-Pilates Practitioner, Bethany Headland.