title: Is rehabilitation intervention during hospitalization enough for functional improvements in patients undergoing lumbar decompression surgery? A prospective randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rehabilitation has been reported to improve pain and disability for patients after lumbar surgery. However, studies to investigate the rehabilitation intervention for lumbar decompression surgery during hospitalization are scarce. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes of perioperative rehabilitation intervention for patients who underwent lumbar decompression surgery (LDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged 18-65 years old who received their first LDS were randomized into the perioperative rehabilitation group (PG) or control group (CG). The PG received rehabilitation intervention during hospitalization for lumbar decompression surgery. Pain, functional capacity, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were assessed on admission, at discharge, and at follow-ups one month, three months, and six months after surgery. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 60 patients scheduled for decompression surgery for lumbar stenosis were enrolled into the study. After surgery, the PG showed significant pain relief and improvement of disability as well as quality of life, but there were no significant functional improvements compared with the CG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study indicate that the rehabilitation intervention during hospitalization improves pain intensity as well as disability and quality of life, yet has limited effects on the functional performance over time up to six months post-surgery in patients who received LDS. The study suggest that rehabilitation interventions during hospitalization must include regular support for patient adherence to the intervention program and focus on task-oriented programs for lower extremities such as closed-chain exercises in functional postures.
authors: Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Yin
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Tseng
authors: ST
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors: Yung-Cheng
authors: YC
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors: Simon Fuk-Tan
authors: SF
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Hsiu
authors: CH
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taiwan. Electronic address: linyh@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors: Yang-Hua
authors: YH
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Decompression surgery; Hospitalization; Perioperative period; Physiotherapy rehabilitation; Spinal surgery