The effects of aerobic exercise after lumbar microdiscectomy.
METHODS
This study determined whether lumbar discectomy patients could endure an aerobic exercise program sufficient to achieve a training effect, and whether any functional advantages were derived.


METHODS
Trained volunteers (n = 19) were compared with untrained control subjects (n = 18) after a 12-week aerobic and rehabilitation exercise program. Subjects completed a maximal graded exercise test, a hydrostatic weighing test, and a battery of self-report inventories.


RESULTS
Using a discriminant analysis, as a post hoc test, maximal oxygen consumption was found to be the factor responsible for the difference between the groups (P < 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxygen consumption was more than three times as important as any other single variable in differentiating between the groups.
Brennan
G P
GP
Utah Back and Fitness Clinic, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Shultz
B B
BB
Hood
R S
RS
Zahniser
J C
JC
Johnson
S C
SC
Gerber
A H
AH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*