For polio patients, the long-term outcomes of spinal fusion are generally positive for its primary goals. The surgery is highly successful at halting the progression of scoliosis, which leads to a significant and lasting reduction in back pain and a major improvement in posture and sitting/standing balance. Improvements in breathing capacity are less guaranteed and depend on the severity of pre-existing lung restriction; some patients experience modest gains, while others see no change. The major challenges during recovery are substantial, including a long and painful rehabilitation, the psychological difficulty of movement restrictions (like no bending or twisting), and the risk of developing new weakness in previously functional muscles due to the increased stress of a rigid spine.