Early Initiation of a Strength Training Based Rehabilitation After Lumbar Spine Fusion Improves Core Muscle Strength

Dejan Kernc

Status: Completed

Conditions: Lumbar Spine Fusion

Treatments: Behavioral: The training group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03349580

EarlyRehab-LSF

Details and patient eligibility

About

To analyze safety and the effects of early initiation of the rehabilitation. Including the objective measurement outcomes after lumbar spine fusion, based on the principles of strength training.

Full description

The 27 patients were recruited for the study, aged 45 to 70 years, who had undergone lumbar spine fusion. The patients were randomized in to two groups. The strength training group started rehabilitation 3 weeks after surgery. The patients exercised two times per week, over 9 weeks. The focus was on muscle activation of lumbopelvic muscles stabilization. The control group followed a standard postoperative protocol, where no exercises were performed at the rehabilitation stage. The functional outcomes and the plain radiographs were evaluated after 3 weeks and subsequently after 3 and 18 months after the surgery.

Enrollment: 27 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primary diagnosis of degenerative, low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease with or without spinal stenosis.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous lumbar fusion surgery, degenerative or idiopathic scoliosis, inflammatory disease, and history of malignancy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

27 participants in 2 patient groups

The training group

Experimental group

Description:

The training group performed rehabilitation program twice per week over 9 weeks. The group commenced rehabilitation 3 weeks after the surgery. During the phase one training (week 1 to week 5), the isometric exercises were preformed on the trunk extension, flexion and lateral flexion muscles. During the phase 2 (week 6 to week 9), the exercises were performed on the strength machines and duration of the exercises were maintained and prolonged to 30 seconds. The leg adduction and hip extension exercises were added. The patients were instructed to perform abdominal bracing (IAP) and maintain the neutral position of their lumbar spine before and during the exercises.

Treatment:

Behavioral: The training group

The control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group followed the hospital's standard protocol. These do not include exercises or physiotherapy before 3 months after surgery.