Rehabilitation for Compression Fracture of the Spine

• Development of an individual program based on the proprietary method of Professor Blum
• We take into account the extent, severity, and nature of the injury, as well as secondary complications
• We accept patients immediately after discharge, starting from the 3rd week after the injury

General Description of the Problem

A traumatic primary compression fracture occurs when the spine is subjected to severe compression due to an impact or fall onto straightened legs, falling from a height, car accidents, or sports injuries. The shockwave creates a "blast" effect, causing one or more vertebrae to collapse, with fragments damaging adjacent organs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels.

Secondary compression fractures result from specific diseases that reduce bone density and strength. This can occur in cases of spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis, tumours, or metastasis to the spine. In such cases, even a minor body twist or bend can cause vertebrae to collapse and compress.

The severity of a fracture depends on the level of damage, with cervical and thoracic vertebral fractures being the most dangerous. This is because the spinal nerves at these levels control the functions of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, bronchi, and oesophagus. If the spinal cord is damaged during a spinal injury, its functions—reflex and conduction—are impaired, leading to corresponding symptoms.

When reflex function is impaired, vasomotor, digestive, respiratory, sexual, as well as defecation and urination reflexes are reduced or completely lost. If the conduction function is disrupted, the transmission of impulses from the brain to the organs and back is affected, leading to impaired movement of the upper and lower limbs and dysfunction of internal organs.

What consequences of spinal compression fracture can be eliminated through rehabilitation?

• Motor impairments, paralysis
• Vertebral instability, spinal canal stenosis
• Spinal cord compression, dysfunction of internal organs
• Nerve root compression—radiculitis, neuritis
• Kyphotic deformity of the thoracic spine
• Chest deformities, displacement of the heart, lungs, diaphragm
• Spinal curvature, severe scoliosis
• Pain

Comprehensive rehabilitation after a compression fracture of the spine is a complex and lengthy process that should begin immediately after the patient's condition is stabilised.

Our medical strategy

The advantage of Professor Blum's method is that the rehabilitation treatment is conducted comprehensively: locally—at the injury site, regionally—in the injured body segment, and globally—throughout the entire body.

The goal of local procedures is to restore tissue architecture at the injury site by "rearranging" tissues in anatomically correct order. This is crucial for maximising spinal function recovery, eliminating the risk of inter-tissue adhesions and excessive scar formation, and minimising the secondary effects of the injury.

At the regional level, the focus is on all tissues and organs adjacent to the damaged vertebrae, including muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves. The goal here is to restore motor activity, reestablish muscle-joint balance in terms of amplitude, strength, and morphology, starting with the deep single-joint muscles, from bones and joints to the surface.

The global level aims to "reassemble" the entire body—restoring the muscle framework, optimising the body’s geometry disrupted by the injury, realigning the pelvis, spinal curves, head posture, chest shape, and joint alignment. This is essential for motor activity, full-range movements, increased strength and endurance, and prevention of complications and long-term consequences of the injury.

Proprietary method

We develop a personalised comprehensive recovery program for spinal compression fractures, setting realistic goals based on diagnostic results using Professor Blum’s proprietary anatomical-morphological-and-functional system.

The program takes into account the level of spinal injury, the type of damaging factor, the extent of damaged tissues, the condition of the spinal cord, the type of surgery performed, the presence of spine-stabilising structures, secondary injuries, the condition of internal organs, and the total time spent immobile.

At our Centre, patented rehabilitation modular exercise machines are used to selectively target the affected areas of the spine, improving blood flow and microcirculation, creating optimal conditions for proper healing and tissue recovery. The controlled, precisely directed load helps to gradually and safely eliminate pain and restore movement. Each patient works with a trained personal instructor who implements the individualised program under the direct supervision of Professor Blum.