RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The physical activity of patients after herniated lumbar disc surgery
JF Neurosciences Journal
JO Neurosciences (Riyadh)
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 421
OP 425
VO 13
IS 4
A1 Yucel Yildirim
A1 Bilge Kara
A1 Nursen Teoman
A1 Arzu Genc
A1 Serhat Erbayraktar
A1 Umit Acar
YR 2008
UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/13/4/421.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the level of pain, disability, performance, and physical activity changes in patients who underwent lumbar disc hernia surgery.METHODS: This study included 31 patients who underwent lumbar disc hernia surgery in the Neurosurgery Department of Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey over a 13-month period from April 2003 to May 2004. Changes in the patients’ pain were determined using a visual analog scale, and disability changes were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index. Total times for the following performance tests were recorded: rolling from right to left and vice versa, loaded reach, repeated sitting/standing, 50-foot walk, and 5-min walk. The Compendium of Physical Activities questionnaire was used to assess physical activity levels in a 24-hour period. The assessments were performed 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively.RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the pain, disability, performance, and physical activity levels 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively (p=0.000), with the worst values at 2 months and the best at 6 months.CONCLUSION: A need exists not only to direct patients toward more active lifestyles and physical fitness, but also to use assessments to accelerate the recovery period, ensuring continuity in the postoperative period.