title: A prospective trial of mechanical physiotherapy for lumbar disk prolapse.
abstract: Fifty consecutive patients with neuroradiologically confirmed lumbar disk prolapse, who responded to the first five daily physiotherapy sessions with pain centralization, were prospectively treated with mechanical physiotherapy (McKenzie). At a median follow-up of 55 weeks, there were high rates of patient satisfaction, recovery from neurological deficits, and employment, and a low rate of surgical interventions. Mechanical physiotherapy is thus a useful diagnostic tool and an effective treatment strategy for many patients with lumbar disk disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Medical School, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brötz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Küker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maschke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dichgans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome