Changes in standing and walking time after multimodal physical rehabilitation in low grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: a non-randomised pilot study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Surgery is often prescribed to patients with significant reduction in standing time (ST) and walking time (WT) due to degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). The efficacy of a multimodal physical rehabilitation protocol (MPRP) in improving ST and WT in patients with DLS is not known. Objective To investigate the effect of MPRP on ST and WT in patients with DLS and compare the results with similar patients treated with other physiotherapy treatment (OPT) methods. Methods Outcomes including numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, ST and WT were compared in patients in the MPRP and OPT groups. Results Data from 25 patients in MPRP group and 10 patients in OPT group were analyzed. In the MPRP group, the mean NPRS and ODI scores, ST, and WT improved significantly (p < .0001) after MPRP at a mean follow-up of 328 days. The mean NPRS score was significantly lower (p = .0001); mean ST (p = .03), and mean WT (p = .03) were significantly higher; and the mean NPRS improvement (p < .0001), mean ST improvement (p = .001), and mean WT improvement (p = .008) were significantly higher in MPRP group when compared to the OPT group at final follow-up. Conclusion Patients with low-grade DLS showed significant improvement in ST and WT after MPRP when compared to similar patients who underwent other physiotherapy treatments. These encouraging results indicate that MPRP can be utilized as a primary treatment option in patients with significantly reduced ST and WT due to DLS.