Question
Hello Sir,
Two quick questions.
I had a ACDF(one level fusion with screws and a metal plate at C6--C7) put in me about 6 years ago.
I have been released from my neurosurgeon,as "fused and recovered"He even went so far as to say "I could jog"....He said "He wouldn't recommend jogging...but I could do it,if I wanted too".
The question is,would it be foolish to use  a trampoline for exercise,as long as I don't do flips or somersaults...
I have been using one for exercise for a few days,and have felt fine,but in the back of my mind,I am worried maybe I should be using this form of exercise.
Also
My husband has back troubles,he had a discectomy 10 years ago,He suffers from pain here and there,but overall he is ok.
Anyway would it be foolish for him to use trampoline?
Thank you for any help with these questions.
It is very nice of you to help people in this manner.
Take care
Carla

Answer
Dear Carla,

This is a sensitive issue...the actual mechanism of compression is not good for either you or your husband.  The ACDF while securing the vertebral levels and the disk is still subject to compressive loading, which will be increased with jumping.  Moreover, the diskectomy your husband had is merely the physical removal of disk pieces/bulges, therefore the remaining disk material is actually more subject to loading and compression than before because the structure has been altered.

That being said, gentle compression and tractioning of the disk material is actually healthy and promotes fluid exchange from the bone marrow in the vertebral bodies to the inner portion of the disks.  This is a hydrostatic mechanism of passive fluid transfer called IMBIBITION, and is how the disk gets most of its fluid and nutrition exchange as the disk does not have a good blood supply.

So, what is the verdict.  If you were my patient, I would warn you against any jumping/tumbling on the trampoline, but would allow you to stand on it while oscillating up and down.  This means your feet never leave the elastic canvas, so you experience very gentle compression/traction (imbibition) without hard compressive mechanisms.  It should go without saying that if you were to fall in any way with your previous surgical histories, even on the soft trampoline surface, you could sustain a severe injury.   

The choice is up to you Carla, realistically, you could jump on that thing for years without a problem, on the other hand, you could be injured in a week...only time would tell.  I would recommend against it.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net