Influence of physiotherapy on patients’ quality of life after decompressive surgery of lumbar spine stenosis

Abstract

Physiotherapy after lumbar spine stenosis surgery should be an integral process of treatment. It is a process whose goal is patient 's return to optimal fitness in the safest way. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients after surgery apply to physiotherapy recommendations, and estimate the impact of exercise on the quality of life. The study involved 58 patients, mean age 52.33 ± 14.12. The quality of life of the patients was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Statistical analysis In the cases where the independent variables were dichotomous, Student's t-test was applied for independent trials, while the equality of variance was controlled with the use of Levene's test. In the cases of independent variables measured on at least the rank level, correlation was established by the Tau b Kendall (tau-b) rank correlation coefficient. In both cases, bilateral statistical significance was the basis. Regularly 31 patients (53.4%) exercise. Only 15 patients (25.9%) reported that they always manage to follow the recommendations on the proper care of the spine. Regularity of exercise correlated with physical (tau-b -,224 for p<0.05, psychological (tau-b -,235 for p<0.05) and environmental health (tau-b -,323 for p<0.01). 1. Influence of physiotherapy on patients' quality of life after decompressive surgery of lumbar spine stenosis was positive. 2.Exercises after surgery performed regularly just over half of the patients. A small percentage of patients followed recommendations concerning proper care of the spine. 3. The results of the analysis of the quality of life of patients were significantly reduced compared to the standards of the Polish population.