Article

The purpose of the study was to examine changes in quality of life
measures in patients who have undergone an intensive exercise program following a
single level microdiskectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with blinded
examiners. The study was conducted in outpatient physical therapy
clinics. SUBJECTS: Ninety-eight participants (53 male, 45 female) who had
undergone a single-level lumbar microdiskectomy allocated to receive exercise and
education or education only. INTERVENTIONS: A 12-week periodized exercise program
of lumbar extensor strength and endurance training, and mat and upright
therapeutic exercises was administered. OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life was
tested with the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Measurements were taken 4-6 weeks
postsurgery and following completion of the 12-week intervention program. Since
some participants selected physical therapy apart from the study, analyses were
performed for both an as-randomized (two-group) design and an as-treated
(three-group) design. RESULTS: In the two-group analyses, exercise and education
resulted in a greater increase in SF-36 scales, role physical (17.8 vs. 12.1) and
bodily pain (13.4 vs. 8.4), and the physical component summary (13.2 vs. 8.9). In
the three-group analyses, post-hoc comparisons showed exercise and education
resulted in a greater increase in the SF-36 scales, physical function (10.4 vs.
5.6) and bodily pain (13.7 vs. 8.2), and the physical component summary (13.7 vs.
8.9) when compared with usual physical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: An intensive,
progressive exercise program combined with education increases quality of life in
patients who have recently undergone lumbar microdiskectomy.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS