Abstract
A lumbar disc herniation resulting in surgery may be an incisive event in a patient’s everyday life. The patient’s recovery after sequestrectomy may be influenced by several factors. There is evidence that regular physical activity can lower pain perception and improve the outcome after surgery. For this purpose, we hypothesized that patients performing regular sports prior to lumbar disc surgery might have less pain perception and disability thereafter. Fifty-two participants with a single lumbar disc herniation confirmed on MRI treated by a lumbar sequestrectomy were included in the trial. They were categorized into two groups based on their self-reported level of physical activity prior to surgery: group NS, no regular physical activity and group S, with regular physical activity. Further evaluation included a detailed medical history, a physical examination, and various questionnaires: Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Beck-Depression-Inventory (BDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Core Outcome Measure Index (COMI), and the EuroQoL-5Dimension (EQ- 5D). Surgery had an excellent overall improvement of pain and disability (p < 0.005). The ODI, COMI, and EQ-5D differed 6 months after intervention (p < 0.05) favoring the sports group. Leg and back pain on VAS was also significantly less in group B than in group A, 12 months after surgery (p < 0.05). Preoperative regular physical activity is an important influencing factor for the overall satisfaction and disability after lumbar disc surgery. The importance of sports may have been underestimated for surgical outcomes.
Highlights
The importance of sports may have been underestimated for surgical outcomes
A lumbar disc herniation is considered a major source of low back pain and radiculopathy by mechanical compression of the corresponding lumbar nerve root
Consecutive patients were considered for inclusion, if they had a single-level disc herniation confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Summary
A lumbar disc herniation is considered a major source of low back pain and radiculopathy by mechanical compression of the corresponding lumbar nerve root. The patient’s recovery and improvement of pain after lumbar spine surgery may be influenced by several factors. [4] It is known that a physically active lifestyle is crucial for a variety of health-related benefits. It has been suggested that regular physical activity can lower pain perception and improve outcome after surgery. The influence of regular physical activity prior to lumbar spine surgery on postoperative outcome has not yet been investigated in a prospective clinical trial. We Neurosurg Rev (2017) 40:597–604 hypothesized that patients who perform sports regularly before lumbar disc surgery might have less pain and disability thereafter. The objective of this study was to prospectively assess the effect of baseline physical activity level on pain, satisfaction, and disability after lumbar disc surgery
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