Exercise After Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery

Physical therapy and rehabilitation may improve low back pain and quality of life after lumbar disc herniation. But there is not any agreement of its optimal start time, and rehabilitative methods. This study evaluates the effects of early and late rehabilitation to the low back pain and quality of life following unilateral microdiscectomy.

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Key information

Conditions

Disc Herniation Behavior Bone Diseases Hernia Intervertebral Disc Displacement Motor Activity Musculoskeletal Diseases Pathological Conditions, Anatomical Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Spinal Diseases Surgery

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul Medeniyet University Medical Faculty Goztepe Suleyman Yalcin City Hospital

Istanbul, Kadıkoy, 34722, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a frequently encountered ailment in neurosurgery clinics and is prevalent among the general populace, with a reported incidence of about 2%. As it is primarily observed in the workforce, it adversely affects their quality of life. One common reason for referring a patient for surgery is radiculopathy and low back pain co-occurrence. LDH is typically observed in the adult population in active occupation. Most patients with LDH can be treated conservatively, but surgery may be necessary for around 13% of cases.

The decision to operate depends on the individual patient, but persistent radicular pain and neurological dysfunction unresponsive to conservative treatment are common indications. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are becoming more prevalent. Currently, microsurgery is the most common approach for lumbar disc herniation. In addition, endoscopic and minimally invasive surgeries have become more prevalent.

Lumbar microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure involving discectomy with paravertebral muscle dissection. Subsequently, patients may experience postoperative back pain, potentially impacting their quality of life. Physical rehabilitation is frequently suggested following surgery. Some studies have indicated that physical therapy and rehabilitation may not significantly improve low back pain and quality of life after lumbar disc herniation. There is yet to be an agreement on the effectiveness of physical therapy, its optimal start time, and rehabilitative methods.

This study evaluates the effects of early and late rehabilitation following unilateral microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation. It also examines the differences in low back pain and patients' quality of life due to exercise.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

radicular pain that persisted despite 4-6 weeks of conservative treatment,
detection of single-level disc herniation in MRI lumbar microsurgery.
Individuals who underwent single-level unilateral lumbar microsurgery. Those with a surgical incision <3 cm.

Exclusion criteria

Individuals with more than one level of muscle exposure at the time of surgery.
those with a skin incision >3 cm

Treatment and study plan

Physical exercise

Other

The patients were randomized into 5 groups as control group, walking at 2 weeks, walking at 4 weeks, waist exercise at 2 weeks, waist exercise at 4 weeks.

Primary outcomes

Affect on back pain

Time frame: 0 - 1 Months in the post-operative period

Different effects of early and late rehabilitation to the low back pain following unilateral microdiscectomy. Pain status will be evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Medeniyet University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Necessity and Timing of Exercise After Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2023
First posted: Sep 21, 2023
Registry last updated: Sep 21, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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