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Thoracic Fusion Starter Exercise Guide
A short starting program — 8 exercises drawn from the full 45-exercise program. These are the movements most people begin with.
Before you begin. This is general guidance, not a personal prescription. If your surgeon or therapist has given you a different program or different limits, follow theirs.
1. Walking Program
What it helps: Comfortable, frequent walking keeps the joints loose, builds your stamina, and rebuilds confidence on your feet. Little and often beats long and tiring.
How often: throughout the day.
- Take short walks at a comfortable pace.
- Increase your distance gradually as you feel able.
Tip: Use your assistive device as directed.
2. Diaphragmatic Breathing
What it helps: Calms the nervous system and gently engages your deep core — a relaxed, supported way to start any session.
How often: 5–10 breaths repetitions, several times a day.
- Lie on your back, knees bent, one hand on your chest and one on your belly.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose so your belly rises while your chest stays still.
- Breathe out slowly through pursed lips, letting your belly fall.
Tip: Keep it relaxed — never force the breath.
3. Posture Training
What it helps: Trains a neutral, balanced spine for sitting, standing, and lifting — good posture takes strain off the back all day long.
How often: throughout the day.
- Sit or stand tall, stacking ears over shoulders over hips.
- Gently draw your shoulder blades down and back.
- Hold a tall, relaxed neutral position; reset whenever you slouch.
Tip: Set reminders to check your posture during the day.
4. Shoulder Blade Squeezes
What it helps: Strengthens the muscles between the shoulder blades that hold you upright and support good posture.
How often: hold 3–5s sets of 10–15, a few times a day.
- Sit or stand tall with arms relaxed.
- Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together and slightly down.
- Hold briefly, then release.
Tip: Do not shrug your shoulders up toward your ears.
5. Gentle Shoulder Rolls
What it helps: Eases stiffness around the neck and shoulders, keeping the area loose and comfortable.
How often: 10 each direction repetitions, several times a day.
- Sit or stand tall.
- Slowly roll your shoulders up, back, and down in a smooth circle.
- Repeat, then reverse direction.
Tip: Keep the motion slow and relaxed.
6. Ankle Pumps
What it helps: Keeps blood moving to reduce swelling and the risk of clots while you're less active — small, frequent, and important early on.
How often: 20 repetitions, several times a day.
- Flex your foot up, pointing your toes toward the ceiling.
- Point your toes down, away from your body.
Tip: Move slowly and with control.
7. Glute Squeezes
What it helps: Wakes up the glutes — the big muscles that steady and support your hip. Getting them firing again is the first step toward a hip that feels stronger and carries you with less strain on the joint.
How often: 2-3 sets of 10, a few times a day.
- Lie or sit comfortably.
- Squeeze your buttock muscles together.
- Hold a few seconds, then relax.
8. Sit-to-Stand
What it helps: Trains the exact strength you use to rise from a chair, a toilet, or a car. Stronger here means more independence and less of a struggle on tough days.
How often: 2-3 sets of 8-10, once or twice a day.
- Sit at the edge of a sturdy chair.
- Lean slightly forward and stand up.
- Lower yourself back down with control.
Tip: Use your arms for support as needed.
See the complete 45-exercise program, phase by phase.
Recovery reading
Browse all exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education library
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These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.